304 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



grass, or leaves, used as a lining to the hollow 

 chosen for the reception of the eggs. 



Eggs. Seven to ten or twelve, greyish-white 

 to pale red-brown in ground-colour, blotched and 

 spotted all over with very dark, rich brown. Dis- 

 tinguished from the eggs of the Red Grouse by 

 their buify ground-colour and smaller number of 

 markings. Size about 1.7 by i.i in. (See Plate 

 XV.) 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Resident. Notes : sometimes low, 

 and at others a kind of loud and prolonged croak. 

 Local and other names : Rock Grouse, White 

 Grouse, White Partridge (from the fact that the 

 bird turns white in winter), White Game. Sits 

 very closely. The nest is somewhat difficult to 

 find. I have seen one under the shelter of a crag 

 jutting from a steep hillside. 



BREEDING HAUNT OF THE PTARMIGAN. 



Photographed close upon Midsummer. 



