Vol. xxv.] 40 



been taken by native collectors from the islets off the west 

 of Sardinia. The present exhibit of 14 eggs was obtained 

 in 1908 and 1909 from a small and hitherto unknown colony. 

 Notes on the nesting-habits, as well as the size and weight 

 of the eggs and the remarkable deep red colour of the 

 yolk, will be found in the l Ornithologische Jahrbuch,' 1909, 

 p. 139." 



Mr. J. G. Millais exhibited an example of erythrism in 

 the Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus). The bird, an adult 

 male, was shot at Carradale, in Argyllshire, in October 1908, 

 by Mr. Austin Mackenzie, who described it in c The Field ' 

 (Dec. 12th, 1908) as a hybrid between the Red Grouse and 

 the Pheasant. On its being subsequently examined by 

 Mr. Millais it proved to be a curious rufous variety, similar 

 to the variation of the Partridge well known as the 

 " Mountain Partridge " and long ago described by Brisson 

 as Perdix montana. In the case of Red Grouse such a 

 variation was unknown *, since all varieties of that species 

 follow well-defined lines, being generally pure white, patched 

 with silvery, steel-grey, yellow, cinnamon, pale brown, or 

 black in colour, with the darker markings faintly indicated. 



In the bird in question the chestnut-red covered the front 

 of the neck and extended to the nape, chest, greater part 

 of the back, scapulars, rump, and tail-coverts. On the 

 scapulars and rump a few curious feathers were blood-red and 

 black, edged with a rufous tint. The primaries were normal, 

 but the secondaries and other wing-feathers were very sin- 

 gular, being rufous, edged with black loops, instead of being 

 barred. The crown of the head, lower breast, flanks, and vent 

 were of a deep burnt-sienna. A few normal white feathers 

 were to be seen on the bastard wing, lower breast, and sides 

 of the lower mandible. The feet and legs were normal. 

 Since the above was received, Mr. Millais had examined 



* [There is a male variety in the British Museum -which bears a 

 considerable resemblance to the bird exhibited by Mr. Millais. It 

 appears in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, xxii. 

 p. 39, as specimen ' h ' S ad. sk. [var.], Loch Sween, Aug., C. C. S. Par- 

 sons, Esq. [P.].— Ed.] 



