PTARMIGAN. 365 



bare wind-swept summits of tlie mountains, where the 

 ground is broken and stony, rough with boulders, and 

 only scantily clothed with ling, mosses, lichens, and 

 various dwarf mountain fruits. The Ptarmigan is not 

 at all gregarious during the breeding season, neither 

 does it exhibit mucli social tendency during that period, 

 the birds pairing early in spring, and each couple keep- 

 ing much to themselves until the duties of the year are 

 over. The nest, invariably on the ground, is usually 

 made on the stone- and rock-strewn earth, sometimes 

 under the lee of a large boulder, or partly hidden by a 

 stunted plant. It is merely a hollow lined with a few 

 twigs of heather, a little dry grass, or some dead leaves 

 of the Alpine plants. The bird sits closely, sometimes 

 until almost trodden upon, and is most difficult to see, 

 so closely does her brown and gray plumage harmonize 

 with surrounding tints. The eggs themselves are 

 coloured in a very protective manner. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Ptarmigan are from eight to twelve 

 in number. They vary in ground colour from cream.y 

 or grayish-white to brownish-buff, and are boldly blotched 

 and spotted with rich liver-brown, sometimes almost 

 black in intensity. There is but little variation amongst 

 them to describe, but the markings are pretty evenly 

 dispersed over the entire surface. Average measure- 

 ment, 17 inch in length, by ri inch in breadth. Incu- 

 bation, performed by the female, lasts about twenty-one 

 days. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Ptarmi- 

 gan are readily distinguished by their size, buff ground 

 colour, and large bold markings. They are somewhat 

 similar to those of the Red Grouse, but never so pro- 

 fusely marked. 



