114 MR. T. E, BUCKLEY ON THE [Jan. 17, 
yellow-speckled hens breed in this mixed grass and heather, while 
the more ordinarily marked ones, such as No. 8, breed in the heather 
alone; but later on in the season, when the coveys begin to break up, 
the birds nolonger entirely inhabit the ground that suits their plumage 
best. Andhere [may remark on a habit of the Red Grouse that I have 
not seen noticed elsewhere, which is that as the season advances the 
sexes separate, the cocks going singly or in twos, or at the most threes, 
the hens in larger numbers, except a few pairs here and there, which 
I believe to be barren birds. 
Every ornithologist who has tried it must have remarked how 
difficult it is to get specimens of Ptarmigan in any of their three 
distinct plumages, at least in the British Isles ; and I find, though in 
a less degree, the same may be said of the Red Grouse, as in nearly 
all of the specimens exhibited traces of their summer or autumn 
plumage may be found, though most of them were obtained near the 
end of the season. I do not pretend to call the one exhibited a perfect 
series, as almost every Grouse varies more or less from its neighbour ; 
and it would not be easy to get two birds resembling each other in 
every feather, as may be done in most other species. 
Having made these prefatory remarks, I now proceed to describe 
in detail some of the birds in the series now exhibited, nearly all of 
which were obtained at or near Balnacoil in the valley of the Brora, 
East Sutherland, and, whether cocks or hens, had completed their 
full winter plumage as far as it can be. 
No. 1. Male, Nov. 7, 1879.—Head and neck reddish brown, the 
back of each being marked by irregular bars of black relieved by 
others of yellowish brown. Back deep reddish brown, closely 
interlined by very small and irregular lines of black, these lines 
being much coarser near the centre of the back. Wing-coverts, 
rump, and upper tail-coverts the same, but the black lines still 
smaller ; primaries slightly edged with white. Breast deeper in colour 
than the back, getting darker still towards the centre, the feathers 
being marked throughout by fine black lines, a few white feathers 
appearing between the legs. Bu 
No, 2. Female, Nov. 7, 1879.—This bird (which with the one last 
described made a barren pair) resembles No. 1 in most particulars : 
the back has fewer black bars in it, but more dark spots; and the 
upper tail-coverts are more marked with black bars and _ spots. 
The breast is decidedly lighter in colour, and has the dark bars 
more regular; a few of the under tail-coverts are tipped with 
white. 
This pair are good examples of the typical form of Red Grouse, 
one of the least common on the moor where they were procured. 
No. 3. Male, Oct. 31, 1879.—Head and back of neck dark brown, 
relieved with lighter spots and black bars. Back reddish brown, 
with small black bars, each feather having a black patch; greater 
wing-coverts the same, but with fewer black patches ; one or two of 
the lesser wing-coverts have a tip of white ; upper tail-coverts dark 
brown with black bars, a few of these tipped with white. Throat 
deep chestnut-brown ; breast deep reddish brown with decided bars 
