3^ Allen's naturalist's library. 



among birch- and willow-trees, and, unlike the Grouse, they are 

 fond of perching on trees, and prefer to roost in them. 



Note. — The Newfoundland bird is said to differ in having black shafts 

 to the flight-feathers, and has been distinguished under the name of La^o- 

 p2is alleni, but specimens recently obtained from that island show that this 

 difference is not constant, and of no importance. Black shafts to the pri- 

 mary flight -feathers, usually accompanied by black on the adjacent parts of 

 the web, are characteristic of younger birds in the first white winter plu- 

 mage, but are sometimes to be seen in individuals which are certainly more 

 than one year old. 



Nestling, Nest, and Eggs. — Like those of Z. scoticus. 



III. THE COMMON PTARMIGAN. LAGOPUS MUTUS. 



Tetrao lagopus, Scop, {nee Linn.) Ann. i. p. ii8 (1769). 

 Tetrao mutus, Montin, Phys. Salsk. Hand. i. p. 155 (1776-86). 

 Lagopus mutus, Leach, Syst. Cat. p. 27 (1816); Millais, Game 

 Birds, pp. 63-72, pis. and woodcuts (1892); Ogilvie-Grant, 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 45 (1893). 



Adult Male and Female at all seasons. — Outer tail-feathers black, 

 with only the bases and tips more or less white ; flight-feathers 

 always ivhite ; bill much uiore slcJider than in the Red Grouse 

 or Willow Grouse; wing shorter, males measuring about 7-5 

 inches from the bend of the wing to the end of the longest 

 flight-feather. 



Adult Male and Female.— Winter Plumage. — General plumage and 

 middle pair of tail-feathers white, with a black patch in front 

 of the eye in the male, which is absent or rudimentary in the 

 female. 



Adult Male.— Summer Plumage.— Head, upper-parts, middle pair 

 of tail-feathers, sides, and flanks dark brown, mottled and barred 

 with grey and rusty ; breast brownish-black, sometimes more 

 or less barred and mottled with buff; rest of under-parts 

 white. 



Adult Female.— Summer Plumage. — General colour above black, 

 mixed with rufous-buff, most of the feathers being edged with 

 whitish-buff; middle pair of tail-feathers and under-parts rufous- 

 buff, barred with black. 



