Vol. xxvii.] 80 



brown markings to assert themselves in a varying degree in 

 different feathers according to the amount of black pigment 

 deposited. Mr. W. P. Pycraft has very kindly examined 

 the bird and is of the same opinion, and has pointed out 

 to me that indications of barring are observable in certain 

 lights in the normally coloured Blackcock's feathers. An 

 examination of a large series of Black-Game in the British 

 Museum has convinced me that the males, especially in 

 their first winter-plumage, frequently have a few brown- 

 barred feathers, but it seems a very rare occurrence for a 

 bird to be so freely marked with brown as the one I now 

 exhibit. At the February meeting Mr. Millais exhibited a 

 bird which, as far as 1 remember, was much like the one I 

 am now showing. Mr. MiUais pronounced it to be assuming 

 hen-plumage, but I would suggest that an explanation such 

 as I have just given is a moie reasonable one.'' 



In order to supplement Mr. Witherby's exhibit, Mr. 

 W. R. Ogtlvie-Grant showed the following specimens of 

 Black-Game : — 



1. A specimen stated to be a male assuming female 



plumage ; Perm, East Russia. 



2. A specimen stated to be a female assuming male 



plumage ; Perm, East Russia. 



These two specimens were extremely handsome 

 birds in very remarkable plumage; the lower part of 

 the throat in both was pure white, and in No. 2, the 

 specimen marked female, the breast was nearly black 

 with some whitish shaft-streaks on the feathers. It 

 was uncertain who had collected these specimens, 

 but they had been purchased through the late 

 Mr. P. A. Hoist. It was not known if the sexual 

 organs had been examined by any competent person. 

 The plumage of the male specimen more nearly re- 

 sembled that of a female; while that of the female 

 more nearly approached the plumage of an adult 

 male. The pure white throat, barred with black on 

 the upper part only, was a very striking character. 



