1886. } MR. R. COLLETT ON HYBRID GROUSE. 237 
ground. In the hybrid specimen the colour and markings of the 
feathers are a complete mixture of the two species. The upper 
plumage most resembles Lagopus mutus, as the feathers there and on 
the flanks are finely speckled with black, but on a somewhat reddish 
ground, though this is not of so strong a colour as in Lagopus albus. 
The pattern on the feathers is almost similar to Lagopus mutus, and 
the long feathers on the flanks and the upper tail-coverts, which are 
wanting in distinct cross lines, especially differ from the corre- 
sponding parts of Lagopus albus. One or two feathers, however, 
resemble the last species. The cross bands on the head are also 
much the same as in Lagopus mutus, and thus more dense than in 
L. albus, but rather indistinct and irregular. The lores are speckled 
with traces of the black colour which is peculiar to Lagopus mutus. 
The under-plumage is borrowed most from Lagopus albus, 
especially in colour. Tie feathers are transversely barred as in 
Lagopus mutus, but the colour is red, almost similar to that of 
Lagopus albus. The fine cross lines are particularly sharply defined 
and numerous from the bill to the vent, an unknown feature in 
Lagopus albus. 
This hybrid has, on the whole, adopted the pattern of its feathers 
from Zagopus mutus, and the colouring (especially underneath) from 
Lagopus albus. The bill in size was intermediate. 
It is naturally impossible to state which of the two species supplies 
the father and which the mother. 
3. Bonasa bonasia and Lagopus albus,—Amongst the specimens 
belonging to the Upsala Museum sent to me for examination there 
was a fifth specimen which appeared to be an example of quite a new 
combination. It was stated by Dr. Kolthoff to have been captured in 
Jemtland (Sweden) in November or December 1884. The covering 
of the tees is just the same as that of the normal Rype-Orre. The 
colour is lighter than any of them, the whole upper parts, and 
especially the tail-coverts, having broad white (not whitish) edges. 
The inner hidden parts of the back-feathers are particularly dark and 
somewhat mixed with brown. The tail-feathers, especially at the 
root, are much mottled with whitish grey, and the outer feathers 
edged with white on their inner halves. The underside is white, with 
the throat biack, and with dark-coloured but not cross-lined feathers 
on the flanks hidden under the white. The head is unusually 
white, with small dark edgings on the feathers of the forehead, and 
greyish ear-coverts. The inner half of the under tail-coverts is 
blackish. 
Although the specimen was a male bird with well-defined ¢esées, 
its size was even less than a female Rype-Urre (wing 181 millim.), 
and was about the same size as Lagopus albus. It is therefore 
impossible that this specimen could have been the produce of a 
cross between Willow-Grouse and Blackcock, Neither is its tail 
forked, but somewhat rounded (the outer tail-feathers 115 millim., 
the centre ones 118 millim.) and contains but 16 feathers. 
It is therefore more reasonable to suppose this individual to be a 
cross between Bonasa bonasia and Lagopus albus, even if one must 
