Birds. 



6243 



the latter was very conspicuous in comparison willi the stout beak of the former. I 

 did not, however, remark that the beak of the willow grouse was any stouter than the 

 beak of our red grouse ; had it been otherwise I think I should have noticed it. This 

 latter point appears to me to be the most important question to solve, and T trust that 

 some reader of the ' Zoologist' having specimens of both species will carefully compare 

 the two, and communicate the result in an early number, — P.S. Three slight inac- 

 curacies occur in my communication above referred to. In the 9th line apical should 

 be species of; in line 16 dead should be dense ; and in line 24 field should be Fjeld. — 

 G. Norman ; Septe^nher 3, 1858. 



[I have an almost unconquerable aversion to that propensity, so dear to British 

 naturalists, whether zoologists or botanists, to raise those infinitesimal varieties which 

 occur in Great Britain to the rank of species. Lepus hibernicus, Bell; Pontia 

 Chariclea, P. Melra and P. Sabellicae, Stephens; Satyrus Polydama, Stephens; 

 Lycfena dispar, Haivorth ; Polyommatus Artaxerxes, Lewin ; Thymele Lavaterae, 

 Haworth; Trichomanes brevisetum, Brown; Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Hooker; 

 Equisetum Drummondii, Hooker^ are British species that have obtained rather volu- 

 minous notice at my hands, with the view of proving that they were identical with 

 species previously well established. When, therefore, Mr. Norman's note came to my 

 hands, it touched a chord that instantly vibrated in unison : I have always maintained 

 that it was highly improbable we should possess in abundance a bird that was unknown 

 elsewhere in the world. Great however as this improbability may be, we must not 

 hastily link our British grouse to another species, provided it possess a single constant 

 diagnostic character. What Mr. Norman has to say on this subject, my own objection 

 to his views, and Mr. Norman's rejoinder, are now before the readers of the ' Zoologist.' 

 I will not invite Mr. Gould, who appears somewhat pledged to an opinion, but I do 

 earnestly invite the four ornithologists, wdio are par excellence the British ornithologists, 

 to express candidly and fully their opinions on this interesting question. I allude of 

 course to Mr. Doubleday, Mr. Bond, Mr. Salmon and Mr. Wolley : I know that all 

 these gentlemen are constant readers of the ' Zoologist,' and I am sure all will be able 

 to throw light on a subject of such importance. I shall be extremely gratified to 

 publish their views in the November * Zoologist.' — E, Nl] 



Varieties of Black Grouse and Hybrid between Blackcock and Capsrcalli/. — I have 

 recently examined a very interesting collection of grouse, brought from Russia by Lord 

 Wodehouse, of Kimberley, collected during his recent Embassy at St. Petersburgh: 

 amongst these are some pied varieties of the black grouse, which are the more striking 

 from this species so rarely exhibiting the slightest variation in plumage. Hybrids 

 between the black grouse and capercally, in countries where both species are plentiful 

 (as in Russia), are, I believe, not unfrequently met with. The following are the most 

 worthy of note : — 



No. I. An adult male blackcock with the wings, scapular, flanks and upper lail- 

 coverts white, the centre only of each feather having a dark streak along the line of the 

 quill, in some scarcely broader than the quill itself. The breast and back are mottled 

 with white, like some varieties of the common blackbird, and the feathers on the legs 

 are also very light. 



No. 2. A gray hen mottled all over with white feathers, the remaining portion 

 being of the usual tint. This specimen much resembles occasional varieties of the 

 common partridge. 



No. 3. A gray hen gradually assuming the cock's plumage. In this specimen the 



