ON THE OENITHOLOGY OF LAPLAND. 343 



increases, and to shorten, probably by scratching 

 in the snow, towards summer ; but I have seen 

 them very long in the willow grouse in June, and I 

 always observe that the claws of the ptarmigan 

 which I shot about the same time were much 

 shorter. 



I do not see any reason why willow grouse 

 should not thrive in Scotland as well as in Sweden 

 — provided always, nevertheless, as the lawyers 

 say, that the vegetation at the foot of the fells is 

 the same. I think them much more likely to 

 answer than hazel grouse, and they would afford 

 much more real sport to the shooter; for when they 

 are sprung in the forest they never settle in a tree, 

 which the hazel grouse invariably do, but drop 

 again within a short distance. But there is one 

 remark I will make as regards the procuring of 

 living birds and animals from foreign countries. 

 If the Acclimatization Society are in earnest, their 

 only plan would be to send to those countries from 

 which they require specimens, proper men who 

 understand their business, to collect them. It is 

 all very well for amateurs to promise to procure 

 clutches of eggs and birds, etc., and perhaps one 

 out of ten will succeed ; but no dependence can be 

 placed upon a man unless it is made worth his 

 while, and unless he gives his whole and sole atten- 

 tion to it ; I know I always find in my collecting 



