118 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



The introduction of the letter P into Ptarmigan is a 

 comparatively recent innovation ; and as it is nmte, is 

 the more curious, and also superfluous on that account. 

 One of the first spellings of the word occurs as far back 

 as 1617 in a letter from James I to the Earl of Tullibardine, 

 when he commanded that a provision of Capercaillie and 

 Termigantis be made for the royal sustenance between 

 Durham and Berwick, The word is in reality of Gaelic 

 origin, for Tarmachan is the name by which the bird is 

 known to the Highlanders at the present day, and it was 

 formerly so designated even in the south of Scotland. 

 The Ptarmigan has three full moults in the course of the 

 year, and I quote Mr. J. G. Millais as to the particulars of 

 these moults, as he is recognised as perhaps the leading 

 authority on the subject. 



Adult male in summer or breeding plumage. — General 

 colour of head, upper parts of the body, sides, and flanks 

 dark brown or blackish brown, mottled and barred with 

 grey, and rusty on the back, rump, and upper tail coverts. 

 Chin and throat mostly white. Upper part of breast 

 blackish brown. Quills, outer wing coverts, and rest of 

 under parts of the body white. Middle pair of tail feathers 

 black, though sometimes they may be pure white. Re- 

 maining tail feathers black, sometimes white towards the 

 base. The wattle and the comb above the eye are scarlet, 

 and the bill is black. 



Adult female in summer plumage. — General colour 

 above — black, mixed with rufous buff, most of the feathers 

 being edged with white or pale buff. Chin usually white. 

 Breast, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts rufous buff, 

 barred with black. Middle pair of tail feathers black, 

 barred with rufous. Remaining tail feathers black with 

 white tips and — often — bases. Quills and outer wings 

 coverts white. Eye wattle scarlet. Bill black. 



Adult male in autumn plumage. — Upper parts, chest, 



