1004 DR. E. A. WILSON O.V THE [June 14, 



Mv. Ogilvip-fJrant, for, as alri-atly pointeil out, thei-e is an interval 

 of two inontlis lu^tween the moults of tlio c-ock and hen. 



Aijain, it nii<,flit reasonal)ly l)e expected that, as the Ptarmigan 

 and the Seaiidiuavian Willow-Grouse ha\e not two plumages in 

 the year, but three, some suggestion of the third plumage might 

 be forthcoming in the Red G rouse. But the lied Grouse has 

 only two moults. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, however, explains the 

 position by saying that the butt' and black plumage of the hen 

 answers to the spring-j)lumage of the hen Ptarmigan, while 

 the buff and black plumage of the cock Grouse answers to the 

 autumn-jtlumage of the cock Ptarmigan. The grounds for this 

 position will be considered later in the light of the possible 

 eft'ect which continued disease may have in permanently altering 

 the season of a moult. 



Beginning now witli the cock lied Grouse in Jaimarj/, and 

 taking its appearance from the ventral aspect first, the uniformity 

 of the series is a very conspicuous feature. Every healthy bird 

 is chestnut or rufous-che.stnut and black, with tine, almost 

 vermiculate black cross-lines over it. 



Even in the blackest birds the throat and , fore-neck are always 

 of a rich copper-red colour with very little or no black edging at 

 the borders of the feathers, which are usually barred with black 

 only on the actual chin. Here there may be also more or less of 

 white tippings, even to the formation of two white moustachios 

 leading downwards from the gape, sometimes an inch in length. 

 This mav be a, feature either of the black tvi'e or of the red * 

 (Pis. LXXIX. cfe LXXX.). In some very red and black Red 

 Grouse the abdominal feathers are also freely and broadly tipped 

 Avith white ; and this may sometimes he seen even on the feathers 

 of the upperparts (Pi. LXXXI.). The legs and feet are thickly 

 feathered, and are white, or white with brownish barring. The 

 claws are often in this month very long and strong. 



Occasionally a pale bleached feather of the preceding " autumn- 

 plumage '" is to be found on the flanks, middle of the breast or neck, 

 and maybe I'ecognized by its frayed edges ; and occasionally (e. g. 

 No. 539), in a very backward bird, there may be many sucli worn 

 and faded feathers on the chest and Hanks, but such a. case is 

 invariably the residt of sickness. 



On the doi'sal side there is again, l)roadly speaking, a general 

 uniformity of chestnut, blight or dark, or of blackish fi-athevs, 

 with fine black ti-ausvei-se markings; but in almost every bird 

 there may be found a considerable number t)f the old black- 

 centred " autunui-[)lumage " feathers remaining, with their 

 frayed and faded edges of whitish-butt* (PI. LXXXI I.). On 

 the lower back and rump the more worn and faded feathers 

 piedominate. 



The primary and secondary (piills are all comi)lete and are l)ut a 



* Tl)c wlidlc piijiur deals wit li tlu' licil iiwmsv (l,(ii/<>/>its scot iciis }Mlh.). Tlif 

 ttsiins " l)lii(;k Ivcd tirousd " aiul " Ixitl'-spottid or wliilc-spotted Ked Grouse" niiist 

 not l)e ooiifusud witli similar terms lor other spfcifs of CJrouse. 



