2l62 



cock, the toes are naked, and only the legs feathered; and in the hazel-hen group 

 not only the feet but the greater part of the metatarsi are naked. Those with naked 

 feet may be distinguished from the pheasant group by the horny processes fringing 

 the sides of the toes and producing a comb-like appearance; these being absent in 

 the pheasants, while none of the grouse have spurs on the legs. 



Perhaps no members of this group of birds are more interesting 

 True Grouse than t jj e ptarmigan and its allies, on account of the seasonal changes 

 p . of plumage they undergo in order that they may assimilate them- 

 selves to the color of their surroundings, and be thus protected from 

 their numerous enemies. In the ptarmigan (Lagop2is mutus) three changes of 

 plumage, summer, autumn, and winter, take place; during winter both sexes of 



PTARMIGAN IN SUMMER DRESS. 



the common species becoming pure white, with the exception of the outer tail 

 feathers, which are black; the male being distinguished by the presence of a small 

 black patch in front of the eye. It must, however, be remarked that absolutely pure 

 white plumage on the back is not often met with in Scotch examples, except in 

 unusually-severe winters; there being generally a few of the grayish autumn feathers 

 left in the plumage of the upper parts which are neither replaced by white ones nor 

 turn white. On the other hand, in such examples as inhabit colder climates, like 

 the north of Scandinavia, the male at least rarely dons the full summer and autumn 

 plumages, a number of white winter feathers being retained throughout the 



