41 



[Vol. xxxi. 



with broad black markings and narrow reddish-buff wavy 

 bands. 



The ovary was normal, but the bird was in an emaciated 

 condition and had some yellow watery sores under the 

 skin. 



3. Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus). — An adult female, 

 killed at Kirkconnell, Kirkcudbrightshire, on the 12th of 

 December, 1912, and kindly sent to Mr. Witherby by 

 Mr. H. S. Gladstone. 



This bird had most of the feathers of the throat and 

 breast, as well as a large number on the right flank and a 

 much smaller number on the left flank, barred with yellow 

 and black like the summer-plumage, while a number of other 

 feathers were partially barred and blotched with yellow. 

 One or two of the under tail-coverts and some of the feathers 

 on the legs were also similarly barred. The upperparts, 

 lower breast, and belly were in normal winter-plumage. 

 The bird was moulting, and all the feathers with sheaths 

 were barred with yellow and black. 



The ovary was normal, and the oviduct being much dis- 

 tended near the distal end indicated that eggs had been laid, 

 and that the bird was, therefore, an adult. The body was 

 in good condition, and there did not appear to be any 

 intestinal worms. 



Mr. Witherby concluded that this bird, for some reason, 

 had moulted late, and that during the course of the moult 

 the pigment had changed to that producing the summer- 

 plumage. This explanation, he thought, would account for 

 the facts that none of the normally coloured winter-feathers 

 had sheaths though they were not abraided, that some of 

 the feathers were partially of winter- and partially of summer- 

 plumage pattern, and that many of the entirely summer- 

 plumage feathers had sheaths and were therefore of the 

 most recent growth. 



Mr. Ogilvie-Grant said that it seemed to him probable 

 that this specimen had suffered from disease, and though it 



