BROWN PTARMIGAN. 185 



most of the feathers having a small whitish spot at the tip. 

 The quills are greyish-brown, barred with greyish-yellow, as 

 are the tail-feathers, which are tipped with whitish. The 

 lower parts are paler. The eyelids and angles of the mouth 

 are not marked with white. 



Progress toward INIaturity. — When the first moult is com- 

 pleted, which does not happen until the middle of winter, it 

 being very gradual, the males are nearly as described in their 

 adult winter plumage ; but the head and upper part of the 

 neck, which in old birds are nearly free of spots, are barred 

 and spotted all over ; the lower parts are mostly brownish- 

 black, tinged with grey, and many of the feathers largely tipped 

 with white ; the legs brown, the tarsi and toes grey. The 

 female has most of the feathers tipped with whitish, is of a 

 lighter or more yellow colour than the adult, and has all the 

 tail-feathers more or less barred. In very old males, the neck 

 is pure chestnut, without spots. The summer plumage is 

 lighter, and more mottled with yellow and whitish than that 

 of winter. 



Remarks. — This species, as has already been observed, is pe- 

 culiar to the British islands, and is the only one of the Ptarmi- 

 gan or lagopede group that does not become w^hite in winter. 

 At the same time, it is in all other essential respects precisely 

 similar to the Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus saliceti, of the 

 north of Europe and A^merica, which is the species that comes 

 nearest to it, but which is easily distinguished by its larger 

 bill, and by having its summer plumage of a light red colour, 

 but with the quills, wing-coverts, and some other parts white. 

 Next to Lagopus saliceti, the nearest species is the Grey Ptar- 

 migan, which also occurs in Britain, and will presently be 

 described. 



The Brown Ptarmigan is capable of living in a state of 

 domestication, and then feeds on grain, bread, potatoes, and 

 other substances, although it always prefers its natural food. 

 A few instances have been known of its breeding in captivity ; 

 but, from its habits, it does not seem probable that it could be 

 trained in subjection, like the domestic fowl. 



