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Show 230 MR. R. COLLETT ON HYBRID GROUSE. [Apr. 20, feathers are brownish black, finely speckled with grey. A whitish stripe passes through the eye, under this a brown one. The upper tail-coverts irregularly barred with black, greyish brown, and yellowish brown, with broad white edges. The under tail-coverts white, sometimes a few feathers banded with rusty. The tail-feathers are black, with the outer web speckled brownish grey or whitish, and white-tipped; the centre pair entirely mottled. The front of the tarsus as in the male. Thus in winter plumage there exists this difference between the sexes, that those parts which in the male are black with white edgings to the feathers, are more or less mottled brown in the female, and instead of the male's black spot on the breast the female has the breast barred with yellowish brown. Of the three females from Sweden which at present0are preserved in the Upsala Museum, two (Jemtland, Feb. 1886 ; Angermanland, Jan. 1861) are normal, and on the whole similar to the before-mentioned Norwegian specimens. The last is, however, rather light-coloured : thus the barred feathers on the flanks are quite covered with white ones, so that these portions seem to he unspotted ; the throat likewise is snowy white. Both are young individuals; this is seen by their slender and unworn beaks. The third female (Jemtland, January 1885) was somewhat different, and very dark in colour, without any part of its abdomen being entirely wbite. This was an old bird, the beak coarse and well-worn on the edges and point. The ovary was (according to Dr. Kolthoff) plainly visible. On the rump several well-worn autumnal feathers with brown cross lines remained amongst the white winter feathers. Its essential peculiarities were as follows:- On the upper parts, wings, and tail normal, though intermingled with a somewhat stronger reddish-brown colour. The whole of the lower half from the beak to the rump evenly furnished with broad brown and black cross bands; a few feathers quite white, others had white edges. In other respects like the former ones. Size normal. Although this specimen was decidedly more darkly coloured underneath than the others, its general characteristics in markings and shape were otherwise quite in conformity with them. Summer Plumage. The period in the spring at which the individuals begin to change their winter plumage is unknown. All the specimens which I have examined were captured in the months October to February ; and on a specimen in the Museum at Bergen, shot in Voss (Bergen Stift) about the 1st March 1868, there is yet no trace of spring plumage visible. Whilst the spring plumage of the Rype-Orre is as yet unknown, there exists one account of a specimen in its summer garb. In 1823 Mr. Sommerfelt, jun.1, in ' Magaziu for Naturvidenskaberne,' 1 A son of the Mr. Sommerfelt who is mentioned above (p. 225) as having for the first time brought to notice its hybrid character. |