THE PTARMIGAN 117 



their white plumage was instantly transformed, and the 

 Ptarmigan in their newly-acquired rosy dress, wheeling 

 rapidly past, presented a picture that must ever be retained 

 in the memory. The protective change of plumage on 

 the part of the Tarmachan, while usually of great service 

 to them in avoiding their enemies, has its disadvantages 

 when the winter snowstorms are late in descending on 

 the high hills. 



In November, and even in December, snow is some- 

 times absent from the highest levels, and during times 

 such as these, Ptarmigan offer an easy mark to the Eagle 

 and hill fox, for they stand out against the dark hillsides 

 like miniature snow wreaths, and are visible at a distance 

 of, I should say, a full half-mile. If there should happen 

 to be any fields of snow on the hills, the Ptarmigan frequent 

 these fields throughout the day, venturing off only a short 

 distance to feed. On such a snowdrift every Ptarmigan 

 of that particular hill may resort, knowing that there, 

 and there only, are they protected from the keen sight 

 of the Eagle, for the great bird is constantly sailing on 

 motionless wings across the hill faces during the hours 

 of the short winter day. The presence of a fox does not 

 occasion the same amount of anxiety to these mountain 

 Grouse, but their four-footed enemy accounts for a great 

 number of victims during the course of a winter. On one 

 occasion a fox, chased by a collie dog, appeared to be 

 running with difficulty. Reynard disappeared in some 

 rocky ground, but was routed out and despatched, the 

 body being found to contain no less than three Ptarmigan, 

 including the wings and feathers of the birds. 



In Iceland, the Iceland Falcons prey on the Ptarmigan 

 of that island, and there is a fable among the natives that 

 the Falcon screams with agony when, in devouring the 

 Ptarmigan, she finds, on reaching the heart, that she has 

 killed her long-lost sister. 



