HAZEL GROUSE. 209 



"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 translation of Dr. Schrenck's notice, from his 

 recent "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 



