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ptarmigan are said sometimes to make their appearance at the 

 „Aarfuglelege", (breeding-haunts of black game). 



On closer inspection, this theory of parentage does not appear 

 to be in strict accordance with fact. Nay, the origin of the „Rype- 

 orre" can, I maintain, with far greater probability be explained as 

 the result of Lagopufi alhns J pairing with Tetrao ietrix ?. This 

 view has indeed been formerly entertained in a few instances but 

 found little favour with naturalists. The following are the chief 

 arguments that have led me to adopt it. 



It is well known that the Rakkelhane J greatly exceeds its 

 male parent in size, whereas, in that respect, it exhibits a perfect 

 resemblance to its mother. Now, reasoning from analogy, the size 

 of the male Rypeorre should correspond exactly with that of its 

 supposed mother (Tetrao tdrix ?). and exceed that of its supposed 

 father (Lagopus alhus J) in due proportion. And this indeed is 

 found to be the case. That the female Lagopus alhus should 

 generate the large-sized, strong-limbed Rypeorre is every whit as 

 improbable as that Tetrao tetrix ? can be the mother of the 

 Rakkelhane. 



The coloration, too, of the parent-birds favours, T think, the 

 assumption. That the Tetrao urogallus ? should pair* with the 

 black cock, which, though smaller in size, resembles even closely 

 her proper male in plumage, is not surprising; but that the female 

 ptarmigan should pair with the black cock, a bird so different in 

 appearance from her true mate, is not so easy to explain. On 

 the other hand, it is far from improbable that a young grey-hen 

 which has never paired, in a moment of surprise should yield to 

 the amatory advances of a male ptarmigan in his dark-coloured 

 summer dress. 



It has been long known that ptarmigan will repair to the 

 breeding-haunts of black game : but, whenever there has been a 

 question of- sex, these unbidden visitors have been regarded as 

 females. Now, whether female ptarmigan actually consort with black 

 game in their breeding-haunts is a point which has not yet been 

 satisfactorily settled; indeed, I am inclined to think there is little 



