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Show 114 MR. T. E. BUCKLEY ON THE [Jan. 17, yellow-speckled hens breed in this mixed grass and heather, while the more ordinarily marked ones, such as No. 8, breed in the heather alone; but later on in tbe season, when the coveys begin to break up, the birds nolonger entirely inhabit the ground that suits their plumage best. And here I may remark on a habit of the Red Grouse that I have not seen noticed elsewhere, which is that as the season advances the sexes separate, the cocks going singly or in twos, or at the most threes, the hens in larger numbers, except a few pairs here and there, which I believe to be barren birds. Every ornithologist who has tried it must have remarked how difficult it is to get specimens of Ptarmigan in any of their three distinct plumages, at least in the British Isles ; and I find, though in a less degree, the same may be said of the Red Grouse, as in nearly all of the specimens exhibited traces of their summer or autumn plumage may be found, though most of them were obtained near the end of the season. I do not pretend to call the one exhibited a perfect series, as almost every Grouse varies more or less from its neighbour ; and it would not be easy to get two birds resembling each other in every feather, as may be done in most other species. Having made these prefatory remarks, I now proceed to describe in detail some of the birds in the series now exhibited, nearly all of which were obtained at or near Balnacoil in the valley of the Brora, East Sutherland, and, whether cocks or hens, had completed their full winter plumage as far as it can be. No. 1. Male, Nov. 7, 1879.-Head and neck reddish brown, the back of each being marked by irregular bars of black relieved by others of yellowish brown. Back deep reddish brown, closely interlined by very small and irregular lines of black, these lines being much coarser near the centre of tbe back. Wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts the same, but the black lines still smaller ; primaries slightly edged with white. Breast deeper in colour than the back, getting darker still towards the centre, the feathers being marked throughout by fine black lines, a few white feathers appearing between the legs. No. 2. Female, Nov. 7, 1879.-This bird (which with the one last described made a barren pair) resembles N o . 1 in most particulars : the back has fewer black bars in it, but more dark spots; and the upper tail-coverts are more marked with black bars and spots. The breast is decidedly lighter in colour, and has the dark bars more regular; a few of the under tail-coverts are tipped with white. This pair are good examples of the typical form of Red Grouse, one of the least common on the moor where they were procured. No. 3. Male, Oct. 31, 1879.-Head and back of neck dark brown, relieved with lighter spots and black bars. Back reddish brown, with small black bars, each feather having a black patch; greater wing-coverts the same, but with fewer black patches ; one or two of the lesser wing-coverts have a tip of white ; upper tail-coverts dark brown with black bars, a few of these tipped with white. Throat deep chestnut-brown; breast deep reddish brown with decided bars |