BROWN PTARMIGAN'. I7U 



rap at the door. ' Come in,"* said I ;"" — it was my best friend, 

 with whom I spent a happy evening, in which, I believe, little 

 mention was made of Ptarmigans, grey or brown. 



The latter bird feeds for the most part upon the tops of 

 heath, Calluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea, and also picks the 

 leaves and tender twigs of Vaccinium ^lyrtillus, and Empetrum 

 nigrum, with the young heads of Eriophorum vaginatum, shoots 

 of Galium saxatile, carices, grasses, willows, and other plants. 

 It is also said to eat the berries of Empetrum nigrum, Vacci- 

 nium Myrtillus, and Vaccinium Vitis-idaea. In two instances, 

 I have found its crop filled with oat-seeds, to which it is said 

 to be very partial, although it rarely ventures upon cultivated 

 land. While feedinof, it walks amono^ the heath, selecting the 

 fresh tips of the twigs, which it breaks oiF nearly of a size, the 

 largest pieces not exceeding half an inch in length. Along 

 with these substances, fragments of white quartz, from one to 

 two twelfths of an inch in diameter, are found in the crop and 

 gizzard, being introduced for the purpose of aiding the action 

 of the latter in comminuting the food. The process of assimi- 

 lation is performed in the same manner as has already been 

 described in the history of the Black Grouse. When the 

 Brown Ptarmigans have filled their crops, they repose among 

 the heath, or bask on a sunny bank, under the shelter of the 

 shrubs or tufts of herbage. 



On ordinary occasions, this species does not fly much, but 

 keeps concealed among the heath, seldom choosing to rise un- 

 less its enemy comes very near. On the approach of danger, 

 it lies close to the ground, when, being of a colour not contrast- 

 ing strongly with that of the plants around, it is with difficulty 

 perceived by rapacious birds, among which its principal enemies 

 are the Golden Eagle, the Peregrine Falcon, the Common 

 Buzzard, and the Hen Harrier. The quadrupeds which occa- 

 sionally prey upon it are the Polecat, the Pine Martin, the Fox, 

 and, in the wilder districts, sometimes the Domestic Cat. \^^hen 

 traced by a dog, it either runs to some distance, or squats at 

 once, and often remains thus concealed for a long time, or ac^ain 

 runs and squats. I have seen them run in this manner four 



n2 



