COMMON PTARMIGAN. 425 
On the Rocky Mountains south of lat. 63° it is found, together with a 
nearly allied and probably distinct species, Lagopus leucurus, distinguished 
by having the tail white at all seasons of the year. The range of this 
species extends southwards throughout the Rocky Mountains, and on their 
western spurs in British Columbia and the Washington Territory. Inter- 
mediate forms, however, with more or less white at the base of the tail, 
occur on the Pyrenees, and were shot by Captain Feilden about lat. 824° 
in Grinnell Land, and are said to be the only variety on Spitzbergen. 
The latter might fairly claim to be regarded as a subspecies, under the 
name of L. mutus var. hemileucurus, on the ground of their larger size. 
Examples from Spitzbergen vary in length of wing from 89 to 8°6 inch, 
whilst the typical form only measures from 7:9 to 7:2 inch, European 
examples, which must be regarded as the typical form, are apparently 
in the adult male much darker-coloured, especially on the breast, in spring 
plumage than those from other localities; but no difference can be dis- 
covered in the autumn plumage or in that of the female. Scotch examples 
are said to be intermediate in this respect. None of the examples that 
I have seen in spring plumage, obtained m Iceland or within the Arctic 
circle in either the Old World or the New, have the dark breast; they 
may be distinguished as L. mutus var. rupestris. Of the South-Siberian 
and Japanese birds I have not been able to see males in spring plumage, 
and am therefore unable to say to which form they belong. 
The haunts of the Ptarmigan in our southern latitudes are on or near 
the summits of the highest mountains, in a region where solitude and rocks 
are the predominant features of the scene. Many of these summits are 
somewhat barren plateaux strewed with stones, and studded here and 
there with large boulders, but abounding with ground-fruits of various 
kinds, though in some places large patches of snow are always to be found 
in the hollows. The plumage of the Ptarmigan in summer so closely 
resembles surrounding objects that the traveller may often wander through 
a flock of them without knowing it ; whilst in winter, when the mountain- 
tops are deep in snow, the white plumage which it assumes at that season 
is its principal shield from its numerous enemies. Many of the habits of 
the Ptarmigan closely resemble those of the Red Grouse. Like that bird 
it is fond of perching on the large boulders. Its mode of progression, its 
food, and its monogamous habits are also very much the same. The 
Ptarmigan only uses its wings when absolutely compelled, and always 
strives to elude pursuit by running or crouching low and motionless 
amongst the rough broken ground. Its flight is so rapid that even the 
Peregrine or the Arctic Falcons are often hard pushed to fly it down. 
The note of the Ptarmigan is not so loud and clear as that of the Red 
Grouse, and is said to resemble the croaking of a frog uttered in alow 
tone. 
