THE ptarmigan: 



to the tops of the trees to feed on the seeds. As many as fifty have been 

 counted on the boughs of an apple-tree, and they destroyed all the buds in a 

 few hours. 



They also alight on the high forest trees near the great rivers, and fly 

 across the mighty streams in flocks. 



THE PTARMIGAN. 



The smallest of all the British grouse is the ptarmigan. It once had a home 

 in the mountain ridges of Cumberland, but is now only seen in the hilly parts 

 and the isles of Scotland. 



Its chief home is in the mountainous parts of Europe, among the bold 

 scenery of Norway, choosing, however, as a rule, the districts that have 

 no trees. But in heavy snow-storms the birds will descend to the valley, 

 and even perch upon the birch-trees, till the branches appear as if clothed 

 with white. 



There is another species of ptarmigan in Norway that is of a larger 

 size, and is called the yellow ptarmigan. 



The great naturalist Linnseus met with both species in Lapland. In 

 one of his excursions he came upon the lesser hen bird, surrounded by 

 her brood, and he picked one of the little ones up. Upon this the mother 

 bird was in great distress, and came so close to him that he could have 

 taken her as well. She jumped round and round him, as if asking him to give 

 back her young one, until at length his heart relented, and he restored it to 

 her in safety. 



The ptarmigan has a black beak, and a small black patch behind the 

 eye. Almost all the plumage is pure white ; but some of the tail feathers are 

 black, tipped with white. The legs and toes are white and the claws black. 

 This is his winter dress. In summer the head and neck are mottled with 

 speckle J grey feathers, and the breast, back, and upper tail feathers speckled 

 grey. The hen bird is smaller than her mate, and is pure white in the winter; 



