■WILLOW GROUSE. 213 



breadth of that part of beak three eighths of an inch; tarsi 

 one inch and a half; middle toe one inch and a half; hind toe 

 half an inch. The female varies from half an inch to an inch 

 shorter thau the male. 



The Willow Grouse is an inhabitant of the north of 

 both Europe and America. Its home is, however, more 

 especially in Sweden and Norway, Lapland and 

 Greenland. 



In Sweden and Norway it occupies much the same 

 position as the Red Grouse does in our own country. 

 A question was raised in the "Zoologist," in 1858, as 

 to the specific identity of the two birds, by Mr. 

 Norman, of Hull, and an interesting discussion ensued, 

 which, however, appeared to go against such a sup- 

 position. In the present day it is more difficult than 

 ever to define the character of species. Grant says 

 that "species mongers" have been destroyed for ever 

 by the all-powerful wand of Mr. Darwin. I for one, 

 however, refuse to submit to a dogma of this kind, 

 and will take the liberty of considering the Tetrao 

 saliceti as a species perfectly distinct from that of T. 

 Scoticus. Its affinities are more with the Ptarmigan 

 than with the Red Grouse, but it is distinct from both. 



Much as I was indebted to Mr. Wheelwright for his 

 notes about the Hazel Grouse, I am still more obliged 

 to him for the very valuable account with which he 

 has favoured me of the present bird. Living as he 

 does in their own country, Mr. W.'s experience is 

 valuable, and his well-known contributions to natural 

 history entitle his remarks to our respect. Like the 

 last contribution the present one is filled up where 

 deficient from Nilsson. 



"The Willow Grouse is found in the north of 



