37 [Vol. xxi. 



Mr. H. B. Debenham, of Thrifts Hall, Theydon Bois, Essex, 

 and was recorded iu the 'Field' of October 5th, p. 631. 

 Mr. Debenham, who has kindly lent this bird for exhibition, 

 informs me that it was shot on high stony ground, at an 

 elevation of about 3000 feet above sea-level, where Ptarmigan 

 were numerous, but Red Grouse seldom seen. The bird did 

 not actually rise with Ptarmigan, but there were plenty of 

 these birds close to it, and Mr. Debenham believes that he 

 killed a Ptarmigan with his second barrel. This supposed 

 hybrid, which is evidently an old male, weighed 1\ lbs. As 

 will be seen, it has the stout bill of a Red Grouse and in 

 general appearance and style of coloration resembles a very 

 large Ptarmigan in autumn plumage. The head, neck, chest, 

 back, and upper tail-coverts are much like those of a Red 

 Grouse changing from the autumn to the winter plumage; 

 but it .should be specially noted that some of the new feathers 

 moulting on the chest, back, and upper tail-covcrts are 

 ■white, indicating a tendency to assume the winter plumage 

 of the Ptarmigan. The terminal half of the primary-quills 

 is mostly greyish -black, partially edged with white, and the 

 remaining basal portion is white ; the secondaries are white 

 on the outer web and almost entirely greyish-black on the 

 inner web ; the wing-coverts are mostly wliite, but many are 

 partially black toAvards the base, and some of the lesser ones 

 are black freckled with rufous as in the Red Grouse. 



" It has been suggested that this bird might be one of tlie 

 Norwegian Willow-Grouse or Ryper [Layojms lagojms) which 

 were turned out in Banffshire la,st spring by Mr. W. Stewart- 

 Menzies, but a glance at its dusky primary-quills is sufficient 

 to show that one of the parent birds must have been a Red 

 Grouse. As in that species, the wing measures 8 inches. 

 {Cf. ' Field' of October 19th, p. 720.) 



" One of Mr. Debenham's correspondents, Mr. Mountain 

 of Grimsby, who has examined this bird, has assured him 

 that it is undoubtedly a Ryper and has even asserted tiiat 

 lie has shot old males of that species with the primaries 

 partially black like those of the i)resent specimen. I need 



