1886. ] MR. R. COLLETT ON HYBRID GROUSE. 235 
supporting the theory, if it had only been clearly proved, as probably 
the young hybrids continue to follow their mother for long. 
I again remark that for the theory of parentage here advanced 
there is indeed no positive proof, and that it is an hypothesis 
which may be wrong, but that it appears to me to have at least as 
much reason in it as the older one (which is also without proof) of 
the descent from the male Blackeock. On the whole it is remarkable 
enough that up to the present not one direct observation has been 
made (such as an observation of the two species in copuld in their 
wild state, or of the two species pairing in captivity), That such 
observations will not be wanting hereafter, is a matter of course. 
I have just received a fresh contribution to this question in a letter 
from Dr. Pleske, dated St. Petersburg, 16th March, 1886, in which 
he directs my attention to a communication from Mr. A. Rasin in 
‘Journal fiir Jagd und Pferdezucht’ (‘Journal Ochoty i Konnosa- 
wodstwa), 1869, pp. 340-341, with the title “ Eine Siindenfall des 
Schneehuhnes.” From this it would appear to be proved that the 
Tetrao tetriz is the father, Lagopus albus the mother. This report, 
the original of which I cannot peruse, is referred to in the following 
terms by Dr. Pleske :— 
‘‘Im Kreise Nowgorod, auf dem sogenannten Konewschen Moos- 
moraste, wurde eine Kette Hiihner gefunden, die von einem 9 des 
Lagopus albus, welches erlegt wurde, gefiihrt wurde. Von den zwei 
erbeuteten Jungen hatte beide einen vollstandigen Habitus junger 
Birkhiihner, waren auch grésser als die Mutter, und unterschieden 
sich von echten Birkhthnern nur dadurch, dass beim einen 4 Steuer- 
federn und zwei Schwungfedern des rechten Fliigels weiss waren, 
beim anderen der linke Fliigel vollstiindig wie bei Lagopus albus 
gezeichnet war, nicht allein in Betriff der weissen Schwungfedern, 
sondern auch der rostrothen Deckfedern.” If the original commu- 
nication gives no further information upon the subject than the 
words cited above, no proof is given, in my opinion, that these two 
specimens were really hybrids. 
In the first place there is no description of the covering of the toes, 
which is the only feature in its diagnosis that is reliable at every age 
and in every plumage ; and, secondly, the true Rype-Orre has never, 
so far as I am aware, been known to have white feathers in the wing 
(even the young Lagopus albus, before they assume their autumn 
dress, have brown wing-feathers), and it is still less likely to have them 
on the tail. The fact that the two young specimens were not even 
similarly coloured, speaks also for the probability of their being only 
partial albinos of 7. te¢riz, which in so many instances have been 
and still are taken for the Rype-Orre. 
It may be open to question whether, upon the whole, it is necessary 
to designate a hybrid by a scientific appellation, even if, like those 
of the ‘Tetraonide, it arises spontaneously, and, as it were, normally. 
The “ Rakkelfugl” has, as is known, received from Nilsson the name 
Tetrao urogalloides (1828) or urogallides (1835), which was altered 
by Sundevall to Tetrao urogallo-tetricides (186—!), and by me to 
Tetrao urogallo-tetrix (1872). In accordance with this, as I have 
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