118 



THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



of being urged to a surprising degree of velocity, when the birds have been pursued 

 by a hawk. 



Although the haunts of the Red Grouse are the heathery moors, it has sometimes 

 been found in stubble-fields, or among corn, bordering on uncultivated tracts ; and 

 when it finds an opportunity of feeding on oats, it does not scruple to avail itself of it. 

 Unlike the Blatik Grouse, it is seldom or never met with in woods. 



The male is not polygamous, nor does he at any time desert his mate. When in- 

 cubation is over, and the young run about, they are tended by both parents, the 

 female manifesting great anxiety for their safety, and feigning lameness to induce a 

 person who has approached them to follow her. When surprised on the nest, 

 she flies with a low undecided flight to a short distance, and runs off among the 

 heath. The young are soon able to fly, and the flock keeps together until the end 

 of autumn, unless scattered and thinned by sportsmen and vagabonds. Towards the 

 beginning of winter, several flocks often unite and keep together, forming what are 

 called packs. They are then generally more shy, and continue so until the beginning 

 of spring, when they separate and pair, without manifesting any remarkable ani- 

 tnosity ; for although the cocks may occasionally fight, they have not those regular 

 periodical battles described by authors as enacted by many species of the Grouse 

 genus. 



The nest is found in the midst of the heath, in a shallow cavity, and formed of 

 bits of twigs, grass, and sometimes a few feathers. The eggs are from eight to 

 twelve, or even more, generally an inch and seven-twelfths in length, an inch and 

 three-twelfths across, of a regular oval form, yellowish-white, pale yellowish-grey, or 

 brownish-yellow, thickly clouded, blotched, and dotted with blackish and amber 

 brown. 



The young leave the nest soon after they are freed from the shell. They are 

 at first covered with a fine close down of a pale yellowish-grey tint, mottled beneath 

 with pale brown, patched above with deep brown, the top of the head chestnut, 

 margined with darker. 



As an article of food, the Red Grouse is highly esteemed. The flesh is very 

 dark coloured, and has a peculiar somewhat bitter taste, which by some is considered 

 as extremely pleasant. The species is capable of Hving in a state of domestication, 

 and then feeds on grain, bread, potatoes, and other substances, although it always 

 prefers its natural food. A few instances have been known of its breeding in capti- 

 vity ; but, from its habits, it does not seem probable that it could be trained in sub- 

 jection, like the domestic fowl. 



The Grey Ptarmigan {Lagopus cinereus) is the only other species of this 

 genus that occurs in Britain, where it is now confined to the summits of the higher 

 mountains of the middle and northern divisions of Scotland. It resembles the Red 

 Grouse in form and proportions, the male measuring about fifteen inches in length, 

 and about twenty-five inches between the points of its extended wings. In winter 

 the male is white, with a black band from the bill to the eye, the tail-feathers grey- 

 ish-black, barred and tipped with white, the shafts of the primaries brown. The 

 female in winter is also white, the feathers between the bill and the eye black at the 

 base only, the tail-feathers brownish-black, based and tipped with white. In spring 

 both sexes are white, mottled with dark grey, and yellow feathers, which are barred 

 with black ; the wings, lower parts, and tail, as in winter. In summer the head, 

 neck, upper parts and sides, are spotted and barred with yellow and brownish-black ; 

 the wings, lower parts, and tail, as in winter. In autumn the plumage of the upper 

 parts and sides is finely barred with greyish-white and greyish-black ; the head, neck, 

 and sides, retaining the yellow summer feathers longest ; the wings, lower parts, and 

 tail, as in winter. The young are spoited and barred with yellow and dark brown ; 

 the wings white, the shafts of the primaries dusky , the tail brownish black, the mid- 

 dle feathers barred with yellow and dark grey. 



This beautiful bird is met with in flocks on the bare and weather-beaten summits 

 of the Grampians, and other high mountains of the North, where they reside from the 

 beginning of spring to the close of autumn, seldom descending into the heathy tracts, 

 unless in winter when the ground is covered with snow. Its food consists of various 

 plants, chiefly of a shrubby nature ; twigs and leaves of Calhtna vulgaris., Erica 

 cinerea, Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium viyrtillus^ V. vitls-idwa, Sahx herbacea, 

 and others, being in fact similar to that of the Red Grouse. Its habits are also simi- 

 lar, but it generally allows a much nearer approach, and seems in no degree aware of 

 danger from the proximity of man, remaining squatted on the ground, or on a stone 

 nntil you almost trample upon it. When in packs, however, it is more shy, al- 

 though even then it seldom flies off until one comes within shootint^ distance. 



While feeding, the Ptarmigans run and walk among the lichen-crusted and crumb- 

 ling fragments of rock, from which it is very difficult to distinguish them when they 

 remain motionless, as they invariably do should a person be in sight. Indeed, unless you 

 are directed to a particular spot by their strange low croaking cry, which is not very 

 unlike that of a fiog, you may pass through a fluck without observing a single 

 individual. When squatted, however, they utter no sound, their object being to 

 conceal themselves ; and if you discover the one from which the cry has proceeded, 

 you generally find him on the top of a stone, ready to spring off the moment you show 

 an indication of hostility. If you throw a stone at him, he rises, utters his call, and 

 is immediately joined by all the individuals around, which, to your surprise, you see 

 spring up one by one from the bare ground. They generally fly off in a loose body, 

 with a direct and moderately rapid flight, resembling, but lighter than, that of the 

 Red Grouse, and settle on a distant part of the mountain, or betake themselves to one 

 of the neighbouring summits, perhaps more than a mile distant. 



Early in spring they separate and pair. The nest is a slight hollow, scantily strewn 

 with a few twigs and stalks, or blades of grass. The eggs are of a regular oval form, 

 about an inch and seven-twelfths in length, an inch and from one to two-twelfths 

 across, of a white, yellowish-white, or reddish colour, blotched and spotted with dark 

 brown, the markings larger than those of the Red Grouse. The young run about 

 immediately after leaving the shell, and from the commencement are so nimble and 

 expert at concealing themselves, that a person who has accidentally fallen in with a 

 flock very seldom succeeds in capturing one. They are at first covered with a light 

 yellowish-grey down, patched on the back with brown, and having on the top of the 



head a light chestnut mark, edged with darker. When fledged, they are verv 

 similar to the young of the Red Grouse, but banded and spotted with brighter red- 

 dish-yellow. 



The flesh of the Grey Ptarmigan is not so dark as that of the Red Grouse, nor 

 quite so bitter, although it has the same flavor. A very considerable quantity is 

 annually killed, the bird being held in estimation not only as an article of food, but, 

 when stuffed, as a domestic ornament. 



Hooded Crow — The Hooded Crow, or Hondy, is the Carrion Crow of Scotland; 

 but whether identical with the English bird of that name, is doubtful. It is not mi- 

 gratory, like the Carrion Crow of England, but is found at all seasons on most of the 

 headlands and rocky shores of the Highland lochs and Western and Northern Islands. 

 In these places it does not breed in trees, as in England; for there are no trees ; but 

 it makes its nest in precipitous crags. It is the habit of this bird, as of the Ea»le, 

 that one pair appropriate to themselves a breeding-place, and drive away all intruders. 

 If one of the mates be killed, another very speedily appears and takes its place. In 

 like manner, two or three pairs of Hoodies appropriate a district of coast or an island, 

 the numbers being always limited to the means of subsistence. These do not fight 

 among themselves, but prevent strangers from encroaching on their feeding-grounds. 

 The boldness, rapacity, and cunning of the Hooded Crow are very remarkable. Two 

 gentlemen, who were lately on a visit to Barra Head Lighthouse, observed to the very 

 intelligent chief hght-keeper there, that a fine-looking Domestic Cock had lost the 

 feathers of his neck. '* That," said he, '* is the consequence of fighting with the 

 Hoody Crows in defence of his hens, which the Hoodies would kill and devour." 

 He added, that even the lighthouse Dog was not a match for the Hoodies , but on him 

 they practised cunning bearing the stamp of reasoning. When the Dog had got a 

 bone, and was couching with it between his paws, one Hoody was observed to come 

 in front, and another to approach behind : the one in front of the Dog mancEuvred 

 impudently, till the indignant cur, losing temper, left his bone and made a sprino- for- 

 ward at the presumptuous bird; at this moment, the accomplice Crow from behind 

 instantly struck in and flew ofi" in triumph with the prize! — [For the above notice, 

 from the pen of Dr Neill, we are indebted to Mr Eraser.] 



! ' Carnivorous Geese. — The carcase of a horse lying near the Gas Works, by 

 the side of the river at IMusselburgh, at present affords an object of great attraction 

 to the domestic Geese. These animals, which we saw crowded about it to the num- 

 ber of nearly twenty, have nibbled off nearly all the flesh from the back and ribs. 

 It is remarkable, however, that they have not succeeded in making any thino- of the 

 intestines, their soft and blunt bill not enabling them to tear asunder so touu^h a sub- 

 stance. Indeed, so ill adapted is that instrument for picking the bones, that they have 

 only been able to tear off the muscular fibres, leaving all the tendinous and li"-amen- 

 tous parts adherent. We are aware that domestic Ducks and even Geese will eat 

 almost any thing that comes in their way, and have seen them devour fish, suet, 

 potatoes, blood, mice, &c. ; but do not recollect to have seen the Goose recorded as 

 a carrion bird. 



Remarks on Varieties of the Fox observed in Scotland. By W. MacGillivray. 



(^Read to the Wernerian Natural History Society.} 

 The object of the following remarks is not to furnish anything new respecting the 

 organization and habits of an animal so well known as the Fox, but to point out differ- 

 ences observed in individuals living in a limited range of country, with the view of 

 drawing attention to peculiarities generally neglected by those w'ho study nature from 

 books. 1 



It appears to me, that there are four races or varieties of the Fox in Scotland. i 



The first of these, the Hound Fox, is tall, slender in the limbs, with a very atte- 

 nuated muzzle ; a bright reddish- yellow fur ; the lower parts of the body greyish- white ; 

 the tail greyish-yellow, w ith long black hairs scattered towards its extremity ; and 

 about three inches of its extremity w^hite. 



The second, the Cur Fox, is similar to the first variety in colouring, but is smaller, 

 with the body deeper, and the legs shorter. These two races seem to pass into each 

 other, and can scarcely be distinguished except in the extremes. 



The third, the Dog Fox, is compact in form, with comparatively short limbs ; the 

 head rather broad, the muzzle pointed; the fur deep red; the lower parts brownish- 

 red ; the tail yellowish-grey, darkened with black hairs, and having the tip of the same 

 colour. 



The fourth, the Mastiff Fos., is larger and stronger; its limbs more robust; the 

 head much broader ; a dull, greyish-yellow fur, profusely interspersed with white hairs ; 

 the tail dusky, with long black hairs scattered over it, and a small white tip. 



The first and second varieties are of common occurrence in the lower districts of 

 the coimtry. The third is very rare, and individuals of it being considered inferior 

 specimens of the species, it is not to be seen in collections. The fourth kind seems 

 peculiar to the Highland districts. 



The first variety approaches in its general form to the most characteristic variety 

 of the Shepherd's Dog. The head is of ordinary size, with a long, attenuated muzzle ; 

 the ears roundish, erect, with a slit at the lower part of the outer margin ; the eyes 

 of moderate size ; the mouth opening to beneath the middle of the eye ; the snout 

 small, the nostrils terminal, with a lateral slit;, the upper lip grooved ; the neck of 

 moderate length, but strong; the body rather long and compact; the limbs lougish 

 and rather slender ; the tail reaching to the feet. 



On the fore feet are five toes, the inner small and raised from the ground ; on the 

 hind feet four toes ; the claws slightly arched, compressed, bluntish, grooved beneath, 

 near the end ; those of the hind feet broadest. 



Incisores 



'Can in i -^ 



12 



Molares — 



6 2 14 



Incisors of the upper jaw incurvate, rounded, with two small lateral processes, ex- 

 cepting the two larger side ones, which are caniniform. Canini tapering, incurvate, 

 long, distant from the incisors. Laniarii 4 ; 1st small, compressed, obtuse, with a 

 posterior shoulder ; 2d and 3d nearly equal, compressed, tapering, with two shoulders; 

 4th much larger, oblique, with an anterior tubercle, a central point, and a posterior 



