1910.] PLUMAGE OF THE IIED GROUSE. 1005 



few months old, having been renewed between June and August 

 and the same may be said of tlie rectrices. 



The following points in the cock Grouse of January are 

 characteristic : — 



1. The rich copper-red, generally unbarred feathers of the 



throat and fore-neck (PI. XCIV. fig. 2). 



2. The fine barring of the chestnut, dark rufous-chestnut, or 



lilackish-brown of the back, with the scattered ])lack-centred 

 feathers of the last " autumn-plumage." 



3. The thick white feathering of the feet and legs, which soon 



becomes blackened and worn by the " burrens " or " colons,*' 

 the charred stalks of old burnt heather. 



4. The perfect flight-feathers of the wings and tail. 



5. The enormous claws. 



In February the cock Grouse is still in the darker winter- 

 plumage. 



Young, sheathed and growing broad-barred feathers, the re- 

 mains of the " winter-plumage,'"' may still occasionally be found 

 on the hind-neck, nape, and head in backward birds. 



In March the cock Grouse normally shows no change ; but 

 towards the end of the month in exceptional instances individual 

 birds may be found with a few precocious feathers of the autunni- 

 plumage making their appearance on the back of the head and 

 neck. These ai-e very probably feathers irregularly acquired to 

 take the place of those which have been lost during encounters 

 with other males. 



In April the cock Grouse still shows no change whatever. 



In this month there are often greatly increased opportunities 

 for the addition of skins to a collection, because it happens to be a 

 month of very high mortality from " disease." The l)irds are found 

 and can be collected not only by the keepers who are out early in the 

 month in seai-ch of fox-earths, and who are generally also bvu'uing 

 heather, but also, later on, by the shepherds, who ai-e constantly 

 ranging the moor in the lambing time. 



The result during the last five years has been a great accession 

 of Gi^ouse-skins to the Inquiry's collection, in March, with a very 

 large proportion of males badly diseased, and fewer birds in 

 perfect health. Therefore in the series of skins of cock-birds 

 representing April, the gi-eat majority are very backward. 

 Healthy birds have still the old rich red copper-coloured throat 

 of the winter-plumage, and fresh-looking "autumn" feathers 

 round the neck, upper-back an<l mantle, while the winter and 

 old autumn-plumage of the riimp and back is bleacheil and faded. 

 The ))ackward birds are easily picked out, as they have not yet 

 assumed their "winter " plumage, and ai'e still mostly clad in old 

 worn autunui-plumage of the previous year. 



It is important to note the e.\traordinary disciepancies which 

 so commonly occur in the plumage of the Red Grouse owing to 

 disease, whereby the deferred moult becomes in some years almost 



