PTARMIGAX 



175 



The infinite variety of the plumage of the Ptarmigan 

 has ever been a suhject of much discussion and comment 

 amono'st British ornitholoo-ists, but in reulitv it is not a 

 very difficult question to settle, the only time during 

 which it is at all confusing being towards the end of 

 July. At that time manv of the birds are well into their 



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MODE OF TRAPPING PTARMIGAN. 



autumn moult, others having not commenced the casting 

 of their summer feathers. During the last two years I 

 have made the plumage of the Grouse and Ptarmigan a 

 special study, and have found the changes of the two birds 

 to be identical ; but as the colours of the Ptarmigan are 

 more striking to the eye they are consequently supposed 

 to be more varied, whereas, in reality, they are not nearly 

 so complicated as those of the Grouse. The reason for 



