The Red Grouse 41 
5. June \ith. — Broomhead Moor, Yorkshire (R. Rimington - Wilson). General 
moult over the whole plumage, except on those parts to which new summer plumage had 
already come since March ; legs and toes devoid of feathers. Primaries, tail feathers, and 
all parts being renewed and passing in eclipse plumage. 
After this date, with the exception of a few backward birds, all specimens were passing 
through similar change. 1 
Forms of Plumage. — The various forms of both males and females are as follows : — 
Males. — The red, the white-spotted, the black, and every intergrading variety between 
all these forms. 
Females. — The red, the white-spotted, the black, the buff-spotted, and the buff- 
barred. In the case of females intermediate forms are rare, for they generally assume 
one or other of the phases in its pure state. 
In the autumn plumage of males there is a great similarity amongst all the various 
types ; the white being only slightly lighter than the black. The upper parts are black 
margined and irregularly barred with buff, the bars being generally transverse. The whole 
of the lower neck, chest, breast, and under parts are black, with wide buff bars, some of the 
lower breast feathers being slightly edged with white or grey. At the end of the breeding 
season a complete moult takes place even to the legs and feet feathers, whilst in August or 
September the nails of the claws are renewed. With regard to the winter-summer plumage 
of males the assumption is gradual, many of the eclipse feathers being retained until 
November ; after this no alteration takes place until the following spring, when the (partial) 
breeding dress feathers come in. In the case of females in winter plumage each of the 
different forms (afterwards described) assumes its autumn-winter dress from August 
until September ; but when the full summer dress arrives in April, we see a general 
conformation to one type for all forms, that of a rich black barred with chestnut, with 
the feathers of the neck, chest, and upper parts edged with buff bars or spots. 
Adult Male: Red Form (Winter-Summer Plumage). — This phase is usually to be 
found in boggy districts where there are no high mountains. It is the common variety in 
Caithness (where it is very dark), the Hebrides, and the south and other low districts of 
Ireland, when the plumage is complete in November. In full dress the general colour may 
be said to be a rich dark red, finely barred with black all over ; tail and primaries, brown- 
black ; breast feathers and angles of the mouth edged with white, even in May, but in the 
south of Ireland only those at the lower edge of the upper mandible are white. The legs 
and feet are suffused with dull grey. In the centre of the back and scapulars there are 
always a few black feathers with irregular and fine buff edgings. The cheeks, nape, and 
throat are a pure red, almost blood-red in some examples. Individual males of this type 
are found all over Great Britain, but they are distinctly rare on high grounds. 
Black Form (Winter-Summer Plumage). — This is a more uncommon variety in its 
pure state, as it is usually found in form mixed with the red and white phases. It is indeed 
difficult to assign the point where it may be called a black form or a melanic variety. Yet 
it is of such common occurrence in the high ranges of Ross, Sutherland, and Perthshire 
1 My best thanks are due to the following friends, who have so kindly assisted me with one or more specimens : Earl 
Cawdor, H. F. Wallace, Capt. Brander Dunbar, Mrs. Wilfred Loder, C. W. Dyson Perrins, J. C. Williams, Beville Stanier, M.P., 
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Herbert Pullar, P. D. Malloch, H. Rose of Holm Rose, J. M'L. Marshall, A. Wynne Corrie, 
R. Rimington-Wilson, E. M. Eversfield, The Macleod of Macleod, G. W. Millais. 
F 
