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  THE 
  VERTEBEATE 
  FAUNA 
  OF 
  " 
  DEE.' 
  

  

  means 
  a 
  change 
  of 
  colour 
  only 
  in 
  the 
  feathers, 
  there 
  is 
  

   nothing 
  to 
  warrant 
  such 
  a 
  contention. 
  Feathers 
  in 
  every 
  

   case 
  are 
  developed 
  suited 
  to 
  the 
  wants 
  of 
  the 
  species 
  and 
  

   the 
  changes 
  of 
  the 
  season. 
  

  

  The 
  Ptarmigan 
  is 
  a 
  common 
  species 
  that 
  generally 
  keeps 
  

   to 
  the 
  summits 
  of 
  our 
  highest 
  mountains, 
  but 
  it 
  is 
  not 
  strictly 
  

   confined 
  to 
  such 
  situations. 
  It 
  has 
  been 
  seen 
  on 
  Bennachie 
  

   (1733 
  feet), 
  and 
  one 
  was 
  killed 
  there 
  by 
  the 
  late 
  Sir 
  James 
  

   Elphinstone, 
  who 
  sent 
  it 
  to 
  me. 
  Four 
  were 
  seen 
  on 
  the 
  low 
  

   Culsalmond 
  Hills, 
  August, 
  1885, 
  as 
  I 
  was 
  informed 
  by 
  Mr. 
  

   Walker, 
  keeper; 
  and 
  it 
  has 
  been 
  shot 
  upon 
  the 
  Hill 
  of 
  

   Mormond 
  (769 
  feet), 
  by 
  Mr. 
  Corbet, 
  of 
  Cortes, 
  on 
  Christmas 
  

   Day, 
  1877. 
  

  

  Lagopus 
  scoticus, 
  Latham. 
  Red 
  Grouse. 
  Muir 
  or 
  

   Moor 
  Fowl. 
  Muir 
  Cock. 
  " 
  Gor-cock." 
  

  

  This 
  plentifully-distributed 
  native 
  is 
  one 
  that 
  brings 
  back 
  

   pleasant 
  recollections 
  to 
  me. 
  Living 
  in 
  a 
  district 
  surrounded 
  

   by 
  grouse 
  moors 
  in 
  the 
  years 
  1858, 
  1859, 
  and 
  1860, 
  there 
  were 
  

   many 
  opportunities 
  afforded 
  of 
  studying 
  the 
  habits 
  of 
  the 
  

   " 
  Gor-cock," 
  which 
  were 
  not 
  altogether 
  neglected. 
  Often 
  in 
  

   company 
  with 
  our 
  old 
  friend, 
  " 
  Charlie 
  " 
  Riddle, 
  the 
  keeper, 
  

   who 
  was 
  ever 
  ready 
  to 
  help, 
  have 
  we 
  found 
  ourselves 
  upon 
  the 
  

   hill-side 
  before 
  even 
  a 
  " 
  streak 
  of 
  grey 
  " 
  was 
  visible. 
  At 
  such 
  

   a 
  time 
  we 
  have 
  found 
  ourselves 
  stepping 
  cautiously, 
  lest 
  by 
  

   some 
  untoward 
  movement 
  we 
  might 
  break 
  in 
  upon 
  the 
  solemn 
  

   holy 
  stillness 
  of 
  the 
  hour; 
  and 
  in 
  contemplation 
  of 
  such 
  

   silent, 
  yet 
  eloquent, 
  surroundings, 
  how 
  often 
  have 
  fallen 
  into 
  

   a 
  reverie 
  from 
  which 
  we 
  were 
  hastily 
  aroused 
  by 
  the 
  first 
  call 
  

   of 
  the 
  Grouse 
  -cock, 
  who 
  announced 
  that 
  day 
  had 
  come, 
  and 
  

   now 
  was 
  the 
  time 
  to 
  be 
  up 
  and 
  doing. 
  

  

  The 
  Red 
  Grouse 
  is 
  an 
  abundant 
  species 
  in 
  " 
  Dee," 
  and 
  its 
  

   range 
  extends 
  from 
  the 
  highest 
  mountains 
  in 
  the 
  interior 
  to 
  

   the 
  flats 
  and 
  moors 
  along 
  the 
  coast 
  line, 
  where 
  heather 
  grows 
  

   plentifully. 
  

  

  Genus 
  TETRAO, 
  Linn. 
  

  

  Tetrao 
  tetrix, 
  Linn. 
  Black 
  Grouse. 
  " 
  Black-game." 
  

  

  Like 
  the 
  foregoing, 
  this 
  is 
  an 
  abundant 
  species, 
  frequent- 
  

   ing 
  plantations, 
  birch-scrub, 
  and 
  the 
  bare 
  hill-sides. 
  There 
  

  

  