1 68 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



great speed, uttering a low cackle as they flew. They 

 are very skillful in concealing themselves, either squat- 

 ting in the snow with only the head exposed to view, or 

 else crouching behind some stone or large bowlder. In 

 summer their peculiar gray plumage assimilates so well 

 to the hue of the ground and the moss-covered stones 

 lying about in all directions that it is next to impossible 

 to perceive them, and at this period, especially during the 

 breeding season, they rarely move when approached, per- 

 haps only going a few feet on one side to avoid being 

 stepped upon. 



In winter their white dress makes them so absolutely 

 indistinguishable from the snow that, unless they move, 

 a person could pass close to them and never notice them 

 at all. The nesting season commences in June, and the 

 eggs are deposited in a slight depression in the ground, 

 lined with grass and a few feathers from the bird's breast, 

 or in a patch of short grass pressed down by the hen 

 into a circular shape. These so-called nests are always 

 at a very high elevation, in some localities rarely below 

 12,000 feet, and eight to ten is the usual number of the 

 eggs. They have a ground color varying from a creamy 

 to a salmon bufif, with spots and blotches of reddish and 

 chocolate brown, but not nearly so completely covered 

 with markings as is the case with the eggs of the other 

 species of Ptarmigan. When incubating, the hen leaves 

 the nest with great reluctance, 'and will often remain 

 when the danger of being trodden upon by both man 

 and beast is imminent, and, when she does move, will 

 go but a little way before she stops and watches the 

 intruder, expressing her disapprobation at having her 

 eggs handled by uttering a low, rolling note. It has been 

 said that instances have occurred when a hen has per- 

 mitted herself to be lifted from the nest and, when re- 



/ 



