Class II. PTARMIGAN. 273 



thers incumbent on the tail white, and almoft entire- 

 ly cover it. 



The length of thefe birds is near fifteen inches; 

 the extent twenty three : the weight nineteen 

 ounces. 



Ptarmigans are found in thefe kingdoms only on 

 the fummits of the higheft hills of the highlands of 

 Scotkmd and of the Hebrides •, and a few (till inha- 

 bit the lofty hills near Kefwiek in Cumberland. 

 They live amidtt the rocks perching on the grey 

 ftones, the o-eneral color of the ftrata in thofe ex- 

 alted fituations: they are very filly birds ^^ ^^^^ 

 as to bear driving like poultry ; and if provoked 

 to rife take very fhort flights, taking a fmall circuit 

 like pigeons : they tafbe fo like a grous as to be 

 fcarcely diftinguifhed ; like the grous they keep in 

 fmall packs ; but never like thofe birds take fhelter 

 in the heath ; but beneath loofe ftones. 



Thefe birds are called by PIin)\ Lagopi^ their 

 feet being cloathed with feathers to the claws, as the 

 hare's are with fur : the nails are long, broad and 

 hollow : the firft circumftance guards them from 

 the rigor of the winter •, the latter enables them to 

 form a lodge under the fnow, where they lie in 

 heaps to proted them from the cold : the feet of 

 the grous are cloathed in the fame manner, but 

 thofe of the two firft fpccies here defcribed, which 

 perch upon trees, are naked, the legs only being 

 feathered, not being in wantoffuch a proteftion. 



In Scotland they inhabit from the hill of Benlo- 



mond 



