ROCK PTARMIGAN. 177 



it on the ground across some open valley or awale running north and 

 south, along which the bii'ds are known to travel. Soon after sunset 

 the poles are set ujiright, and the net is thus stretched across the 

 passage. Ere long the men who are on the watch see the Ptarmigan 

 advancing, skimming close to the snow-covered earth in the dim 

 twilight. A moment later, and the first birds of the flock strike the 

 obstacle, and the men then throw the net down, so as to cover the 

 struggling captives, usually to the' number of fifty or sixty. While 

 the men hold the net, the women and children rush from their 

 hiding, and kill the birds by wringing their necks or biting their 

 heads. On some evenings this process is repeated several times, and 

 the party return to their homes heavily laden with the spoils. 



In the Old Country this species is common, also in Scandinavia, 

 Finland, Russia, and in many parts of Siberia ; while in the north 

 of Scotland, they are found breeding near the tops of the highest 

 heathery hills in that mountainous country. 



Their presence there is one of the attractions for strangers, and 

 many a corpulent southern sportsman has expended much wind, and 

 reduced his corporeal dimensions, scaling those precipitous hill-sides 

 in the vain hope of securing a brace of Ptarmigan. In another 

 connection it is used with more delicacy by a young Highlander, 

 who, in persuading his Lowland maid to go with him to the " Braes 

 aboon Bonaw," sings : 



" We'll hunt the I'oe, the hart, the doe, 

 The ptarmigan sae shy, lassie ; 

 P^or duck and drake we'll sail the lake, 

 Nae want shall e'er come nigh, lassie." 



LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS (Gmel.). 

 l-U. Rock Ptarmigan. (30i^) 



Bill, slender, distance from the nasal gi'oove to the tip greater than height 

 at base; in summer the feathers of back black, banded distinctly with yellowish- 

 brown and tipped with white; in winter white, the tail black, tipped with 

 white. Mail' : — With a l)lack liar from the bill through the eye. Length, 14 

 to 15; wing, 7 to 7.50; tail, 4.50. 



H.VB. — Arctic America, from Alaska to Labrador. 



Nest, on the ground, a hollow lined with grass and a few feathers. 



Eggs, ten to fifteen, reddish-brown, spotted with darker brown. 



This is another northern species reported by Mr. Bampton as 

 being occasionally exposed in the winter time in the market at Sault 

 12 



