168 LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN. 



comes more dry, and passes into the rectum in a concrete form ; 

 but in passing the coeca, all the finer parts remaining are car- 

 ried into them, and there subjected to further elaboration and 

 absorption. The foeces form a heap of cylindrical fragments. 



The species have a strong, rapid, and protracted flight, which 

 is performed by quick beats of the wings, with occasional inter- 

 missions. They walk and run with great agility, and generally 

 elude their enemies by skulking among the shrubs and herbage, 

 although when roused they fly off to a great distance. They 

 never betake themselves to the covert of woods, but live on 

 open shrubby or stony ground. They have numerous eggs, 

 which are spotted w^ith dark brown. The young run about 

 as soon as they are born, and follow their mother until winter, 

 when several families often unite. The males accompany the 

 broods. 



In Britain there are two well-known species of this genus or 

 group, the Brown Ptarmigan or Red Grouse, and the Grey Ptar- 

 migan. The former inhabits the heaths from the level of the 

 sea to the height of two thousand feet or more ; the latter is 

 found on the sides and summits of hills that exceed that eleva- 

 tion, although in winter it occasionally descends lower. These 

 species never perch on trees. They collect into flocks in au- 

 tumn, separate towards the beginning of spring, and rear a 

 single brood in the season. They are in much request as food, 

 especially the Brown species, as well as for collections and as 

 domestic ornaments when stuffed. 



One of our native species becomes white in winter, except- 

 ing the tail-feathers, and two bands on the face ; the other 

 retains its colour in winter. In the former, the change is very 

 gradual, and is effected by a substitution of white for coloured 

 feathers, not by a change of colour in the same feather. In 

 both species alike the moult is very gradual ; and of neither 

 have I ever examined a specimen at any season that did not 

 exhibit old and new feathers. 



