EAZEL GB0TJ8E. 119 



shorter tlian in winter; cliin and throat are rather brown than black." 



"The female is from an inch to an inch and a half shorter than 

 the male, and has a rusty yellow (not black) throat. Between the 

 beak and the eye a red brown (not white) spot. Otherwise resembles 

 the male. 



"Accidental varieties occur with paler colour, so that they are only 

 brownish where the usual colour is black. According to Nilsson this 

 is the Tetrao canus, the original of which is preserved in the Stockholm 

 Museum." 



I have thought right to give Mr. Wheelwright's account in full. 

 With the bird before me I have been able to verify the correctness 

 of the description. Mr. W. himself, if at all on any point in doubt, 

 referred to Nilsson's excellent history of these birds in the "Fauna 

 Skania." To use his own words, — "I have referred in part to Nilsson, 

 and verified his remarks by my own experience." 



From the north-west of Europe it is interesting to follow this bird 

 into the far-off north-east of Asia, where it was found in great plenty 

 by Dr. L. Von Schrenck. The account is so interesting as it regards 

 the geographical distribution of this species, that I will add a trans- 

 lation of Dr. Schrenck's notice, from his "Reisen und Forschungen 

 in Amur Land." 



"'The Hazel Grouse of the Amoor Land entirely agrees with that 

 of Siberia and the west of Europe, except in having a greater proportion 

 of ashy grey, and underneath the feathers more rusty brown; the 

 whole length of the back is of a clear ashy grey, with fine dark bands 

 and pointed marks across; the shoulders are partly rusty brown, and 

 there is also a little upon the upper and under wing coverts; also 

 round the crop there is a rusty brown among the black and white 

 streaks. At the side of the breast there is a lively rust-colour, which, 

 however, is very scanty, and rapidly passes into a lighter shade. 



" The Hazel Grouse is found in the whole of Amoor Land as far 

 as I know it, from the southern coast of the Ochotsk Sea to the Bay 

 of Hadshi, and on the island Sachalin, as well as at the mouth of 

 the Amoor to the sources of the river in Dauria. Everywhere, and 

 at all seasons of the year, it is the most common of the feathered 

 tribe. Scarcely any locality can be named where it is not found, yet 

 it appears principally in the north of the Amoor, on the borders of 

 rivers in the mixed forests of birch, aspen, poplar, alder, and willow 

 bushes, and in the south principally in the light-foliaged woods and 

 the underwood which grows along the rocky banks of the rivers. 

 Not unfrequently, also, I have met with it in winter and summer on 

 the willow-grown islands, or on such shores as those of the Amoor, 



