PTARMIGAN. 87 



mountains to the south-west of Lake Baikal were probably 

 our L. mutus, which Dr. 0. Finsch also obtained in the 

 Altai range at an elevation of 6,000 feet. 



In Central Europe the Ptarmigan is found throughout 

 the higher regions of Switzerland, and on the French and 

 Italian slopes of the Alps ; also in smaller numbers in 

 Tyrol, Styria, and even as far as the edge of the Black 

 Forest. It is tolerably abundant on the upper portions 

 of the Pyrenees ; and Lord Lilford has been informed 

 on good authority that it occurs in the mountains of the 

 Asturias and of Leon. 



Ptarmigan pair early in spring, breeding in Scotland in the 

 month of May; the nest, which is difficult to find, being a mere 

 cup scraped in the turf, and sparingly lined with grasses 

 and feathers. The eggs, of a yellowish-white blotched and 

 spotted with dark brown, are, as a rule, of a somewhat 

 lighter ground-colour than those of the Red Grouse, and 

 of smaller size, measuring about 1*7 by I'l in., and are 

 from eight to ten in number. 



The young run about immediately on leaving the shell, 

 and are expert at concealing themselves even on the barest 

 places ; whilst the hen bird resorts to the usual devices to 

 divert attention. In wet or stormy seasons the various 

 families associate or pack by the beginning of August, but 

 otherwise not till winter, when as many as fifty have been 

 seen together. 



Ptarmigan are scarcer on the extreme summits of the 

 mountains than at a lower elevation, and those which are 

 shot on the "barrens," or level deserts of stones in the 

 higher situations, ai'e found to be considerably smaller-sized 

 birds. Macgillivray observes, that "these beautiful birds, 

 while feeding, run and walk among the weather-beaten and 

 lichen-crested fragments of rock, from which it is very 

 difficult to distinguish them when they remain motionless, 

 as they invariably do should a person be in sight. Indeed, 

 unless you are directed to a particular spot by their strange 

 low croaking cry, you may pass through a flock of Ptar- 

 migans without observing a single individual, although 



