yo, go-baek, go-back ; although stated by MacQillivray, is easily syllabled into gt tlie Celts, u I the Moor Cock to
speak Gaelic, Interpret it a-s signifying co, CO, co, co, mo-ch!a\dk, mo-ehlaidli—that is, who, who, (goes there?) mg swoi-d, mg sword.'
Toward winter, tliis species associate together in largo flocks, and do not separate again until the following spring. When gathered
together in such nnmbcrs, they are said to “ pack,” and arc very shy, aud difficult of approach, keeping a t all times a vigilant watch
on those wlio intrndc upon their domains.
Tlio coloring of tho pimnago of this species varies very much in different individuals, tlic majority appearing like those represented iu
the plate, which may he considered as the typical style ; but I liave seen spcoimcns wliich had the eutire breast almost black, without
any mottling whatever. One kindly lent to mo by Mr. Gonld, of Loudon, was of this description. Mr, Selby states, that those hied
upon tho moors of Blanclilaiid, in the County of Durham, arc of a cream color, or light gray, spotted more or less with dark brown or
black. Sir William Jardino possesses a “ Gronse shot on the moors of Galloway, where the ground color is nearly yellowish white, and
all tho dark markings are rcprc.sciitcd by pale reddish bi'own; tho qiiilis are dirty white. In some instances tho plumage takes au opposite
shade, and is remarkable for its deep tint, and tlic almost entire absence of markings. The whole, or part of tho qnills, are often
fonnd white.”
Many genera have boon assigned to this bird, and its specific names are very numerous; the doubts rcgardiug it scorning to arise
chiefly from the difficulty of dcftning its proper position, ns to wliother it should be included among the Grouse or Ptarmigan. I t is
undoubtedly nearest allied to the latter (tlio fact of its not turning white iu winter being the strongest point of difference), and, like the
Ptarmigan, it is feathered to the end of the toes, which circumstance is never observed iu the true Grouse; although, when tliese inhabit
very cold countries, tlio feathers of tlio tai-si grow very long, oven covering the feet, and iu this way protect the toes from the pierciug
air, I have noticed this more particularly iu specimens of tho Podiaccaetcs Phasiancllus from Hudson’s Day. 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
imjiossiblo to find any two members exactly alike.
The species to which the Lagopns Scoticus approaches most closely, is tho Lagopus Albus of Gmcliu; so near it, indeed, th a t it uiay
nlmost bo 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 otiier species of Ptarmigan. Yet it wonld bo unwise, perhaps, to consider these two as only one, for each present certain
charaotui-s not observable in the other, sufficient to distinguish' them easily, a t all times. One might, without difficulty, speculate
upon the origin of the Red Gronse, as to ivhether it is but au 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; tliese, after all, although argued with ever so much ability, would be but theories, and it is better to consider the facts as
they present themselves to ns a t the present day, and draw our deductions from them, than to grope iu the dim past, with but very
insufficient guides to lead ns to the truth, for which wc all are striving. Without doubt, the wliite garb with which nature has clothed
the Ptarmigan during the severer portions of the year, is iu its very color an additional protection from the cold, as it retains more
warmth tlian if it were any other line; and, with the exception of the spccios under consideration, the members of this genus arc inhabitants
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. Now, for tho Scotch Gronse this change of plumage was unnecessary, as it rarely ascends higher tlian two thousand
feet above the sea, but lives mostly in a comparatively mild climate, where its ordinary garb ivas sufficient protection, and the extra
prccauUon of a white mantle unuoedcd. I t seems that the mild climate is the most satisfactory reason which can be given for its not
changing the color of its plumage with tho season; since otherwise, being a Ptarmigan, it ought to change as regularly as its relative,
the Lagopus Mntns, which abides upon the slopes aud summits of the high mountains that look down upon the heath-clad plains.
I t is singular that this bird should be so nearly allied to tbe Lagopus Albus, and yet present sufficient characters to eutitio it to a
specific distinctness, Singular, because, in examples of the Willow Ptarmigan from Lapland, Norway, Sweden, and thronghout the northern
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 tlieir various haunts during life; yet this species is only to be found iu tho
Biitisli Islands. The one encircles nearly the entire globe; the other is confined within narrow bounds.
The fact of tlie present species not turning to wliite in winter, does not invalidate its claim to be considered as gcnerically a true
Lagojius; 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 winter in some latitudes, while others, inhabiting different climates, do n o t; yet no one, for this cause, would
desire to arrange them under separate genera.
In looking a t this subject, it must also be taken into c
style, and not of the Grouse,
a that the egg of the present spccios is strictly of the Ptarmigan
It would thus appear, that, witli our present means of judging, the Scotch Grouse should be held a
distinct from the L. Albus,'
The male has the head, neck, breast, aud sides bright chestnut, h-regulariy crossed with fine black linc.s. 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 terminal
wliite bar. The upper parts arc 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 reildish brown. The upper tail coverts are like the back, sometimes having white tips. The tail has tho two
centre featheis chestnut, barred with blnck, the next two more slightly barred, and tho remainder of a dark chocolate broivn. Tho
feathers of tho taisi are brown, but much hghter on the toes. Bill black,, with a white spot a t tho base of the lower mandible.
The female is much lighter tlian the male, tho general color being of a yellowish brown, with the transverse markings and patches
much more distinct. The breast is reddish brown haired with black. Tlic white spots a t the base of the bill are not as clearly dofiiied
as iu the male; the primaries are chocolate brown, as are the secondaries, tho latter more broadly mottled. The fcathei's of the taisi
and toes are pale gray. The bill black.
Tho young are covered with a yellowish down, marked on tlie back and sides with dark brown, and iiaving the top of the head
chestnut, with a spot before and behind tho eye of a dark brown. BiU brownish black; tho claws pale brown.
The plate represents the male, female, aud young of the natural size.
a true Lagopus, but specifically