264 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Col Fig. Brit. B. partxviii. (1891) ; Ogilvie Grant, Cat. B. 
But. Mus. XXII. p. 35 (1893) j id. in Allen’s Nat. Libr. ix. 
p. 27 (1S95). 
The Red_ Grouse is such a well-known bird that a detailed 
description is unnecessary, but the reader is referred to the 
excellent descriptions published by Mr. Ogilvie Grant. The 
following account of the variations in the plumage of this species 
I part, and I cfnno? 
icomif nothing to add on my own 
fni^nd ; ^‘^ferred to in his descriptions vvill be 
found in the volume quoted (Allen’s Nat. Libr. ix. pis. ii. iii.). 
Adult Male and Female. — This sjiecies may be distinguished bv 
haying the flight-feathers always blackish-brown. ^ 
"'‘"S’ i ‘ail, 4-8 ; tar- 
4 'Si 
Range --Great Britain and Ireland, The only species of 
Game-Bird peculiar to the British Islands. ^ ^ 
Changes of Hnmap. “ As no group of birds, as far as I am 
aware, goes through so many and such varied annual chancre's 
p umage as do the members of the genus Zagopus, which indues 
the Red Grouse, Willow Grouse, and four species of Ptarmigan 
It will be necessary to enter somewhat fully into details so as 
to thoroughly understand the subject. ^ 
“1 he Red Grouse being one of the most variable birds in 
existence, we_ must begin by saying a few words regardino- 
individual variation. The ordinaiy varieties of the male may 
be divided into three distinct types of plumage : a red form a 
black form, and a white-spotted form. The first of these ’in 
which the general colour is riifou.s-chestnut (pi. ii. fig. 8) with- 
out any white spots on the breast, is mostly to be found on the 
low grounds of Ireland, the west coast of Scotland, and the 
lorm (pi. II. fig. 10) are rarely met with, and are usualR 
found mixed with either the red or white-spotted formrS 
most often vith both, and specimens in mixed plumage are 
* Cf. Ogihie Grant, /.c. 
