LAGOPTJS SCOTICUS. 
stated by MacGillivray, is easily syllabled into go, go, go, go, go-back, go-bach ; altbougb the Celts, naturally imagining the Moor Cock to 
speak Gaelic, interpret it as signifying co, co, co, co, mo-cMaidh, mo-clilaidli — that is, who, who, (goes there?) my sword, my sword! 
Toward winter, this species associate together in large flocks, and do not separate again until the folloAving spring. When gathered 
together in such numbers, they are said to “ pack,” and are very shy, and ditficult of approach, keeping at all times a vigilant watch 
on those who intrude upon their domains. 
The coloring of the plumage of this species varies very much in different individuals, the majority appearing like those represented in 
the plate, which may be considered as the typical style ; but I have seen specimens which had the entire breast almost black, without 
any mottling whatever. One kindly lent to me by Mr. Gould, of Loudon, was of this description. Mr. Selby states, that those bred 
upon the moors of Blanchland, in the County of Durham, are of a cream color, or light gray, spotted more or less with dark brown or 
black. Sir William Jardine possesses a “ Grouse shot on the moors of Galloway, where the groimd color is nearly yellowish white, and 
all the dark markings are represented by pale reddish brown ; the quills are dirty white. In some instances the plumage takes an oppo- 
site shade, and is remarkable for its deep tint, and the almost entire absence of markings. The whole, or part of the quills, are often 
found white.” 
Many genera have been assigned to this bird, and its specific names are very numerous ; the doubts regarding it seeming to arise 
chiefly from the difficulty of defiuing its proper position, as to whether it should be included among the Grouse or Ptarmigan. It is 
undoubtedly nearest allied to the latter (the fact of its not turning white in winter being the strongest point of difference), and, like the 
Ptarmigan, it is feathered to the end of the toes, Avhich circumstance is never observed in the true Grouse ; although, when these inhabit 
very cold countries, the feathers of the tarsi grow very long, even covering the feet, and in this way protect the toes from the piercing 
air. I have noticed this more particularly in specimens of the Pediaecaetes Phasianellus from Hudson’s Bay. The fact of its varying so 
much in the color of its plumage, as cited above, is another evidence of its close affinity to the Lagopidae, of which genus it is almost 
impossible to find any two members exactly alike. 
The species to which the Lagopus Scoticus approaches most closely, is the Lagopus Albus of Gmelin; so near it, indeed, that it may 
almost be considered as but an insular variety ; and specimens of L. Albus resemble each other in color of plumage much more than do 
examples of any other species of Ptarmigan. Yet it would be unwise, perhaps, to consider these two as only one, for each present cer- 
tain characters not observable in the other, sufficient to distinguish them easily, at all times. One might, without difficulty, speculate 
upon the origin of the Red Grouse, as to whether it is but an offshoot of the Willow Grouse, or whether, if transplanted to a more 
severe climate, where the winter lasts the greater portion of the year, it too might not, after a while, also turn white as the summer 
disappeared ; these, after all, although argued with ever so much ability, Avould be but theories, and it is better to consider the facts as 
they present themselves to us at the present day, and draw our deductions from them, than to grope in the dim past, with but very 
insufficient guides to lead us to the truth, for which Ave all are striving. Without doubt, the white garb Avith which nature has clothed 
the Ptarmigan during the severer portions of the year, is in its very color an additional protection from the cold, as it retains more 
warmth than if it Avere any other hue ; and, with the exception of the species under consideration, the members of this genus are in- 
habitants of the most inhospitable portions of our globe — delighting in the fierce blast, and making their abodes amid the deep snows of 
the loftiest mountains. Noav, for the Scotch Grouse this change of plumage was unnecessary, as it rarely ascends higher than two thou- 
sand feet above the sea, but lives mostly in a comparatively mild climate, where its ordinary garb was sufficient protection, and the extra 
precaution of a white mantle unneeded. It seems that the mild climate is the most satisfactory reason Avhich can be given for its not 
changing the color of its plumage with the season ; since otherwise, being a Ptarmigan, it ought to change as regularly as its relative, 
the Lagopus Mutus, which abides upon the slopes and summits of the high mountains that look down upon the heath-clad plains. 
It is singular that this bird should be so nearly allied to the Lagopus Albus, and yet present sufficient characters to entitle it to a 
specific distinctness. Singular, because, in examples of the Willow Ptarmigan from Lapland, Norway, Sweden, and throughout the north- 
ern portions of the American continent, I can as yet discover no differences between them worthy of constituting a separate species : 
although leagues of ocean and of land may have divided their various haunts during life ; yet this species is only to be found in the 
British Islands. The one encircles nearly the entire globe ; the other is confined within narroAv bounds. 
The fact of the present species not turning to Avhite in winter, does not invalidate its claim to be considered as generically a true 
Lagopus ; and to sustain this opinion, there is ample evidence of the same fact existing among the quadrupeds, when some species of the 
same genus turn white in Avinter in some latitudes, while others, inhabiting different climates, do not ; yet no one, for this cause, would 
desire to arrange them under separate genera. 
In looking at this subject, it must also be taken into consideration that the egg of the present species is strictly of the Ptarmigan 
style, and not of the Grouse. 
It Avould thus appear, that, with our present means of judging, the Scotch Grouse should be held as a true Lagopus, but specifically 
distinct from the L. Albus. 
The male has the head, neck, breast, and sides bright chestnut, irregularly crossed with fine black lines. The middle of the breast, 
and abdomen, very dark brown, sometimes black, with many of the feathers tipped with white. Under tail coverts chestnut with a ter- 
minal white bar. The upper parts are less bright than the lower, the feathers transversely barred with black, and frequently having- 
patches of black, with fine bars of yellowish white. The primaries and secondaries are chocolate brown, the outer webs of the latter 
minutely mottled with reddish brown. The upper tail coverts are like the back, sometimes having white tips. The tail has the two 
centre feathers chestnut, barred with black, the next two more slightly barred, and the remainder of a dark chocolate brown. The 
feathers of the tarsi are brown, but much lighter on the toes. BiU black, with a white spot at the base of the lower mandible. 
The female is much lighter than the male, the general color being of a yellowish brown, with the transverse markings and patches 
much more distinct. The breast is reddish brown barred with black. The white spots at the base of the bill are not as clearly defined 
as in the male ; the primaries are chocolate brown, as are the secondaries, the latter more broadly mottled. The feathers of the tarsi 
and toes are pale gray. The bill black. 
The young are covered with a yellowish down, marked on the back and sides with dark brown, and having the top of the head 
chestnut, with a spot before and behind the eye of a dark brown. Bill brownish black; the claws pale brown. 
The plate represents the male, female, and young of the natural size. 
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