94 PTARMIGAN. 



white. In some instances the plumage takes an 

 opposite shade, and is remarkable for its deep tint, 

 and the almost entire absence of markings. The 

 whole, or a part of the quills, are often found white. 



THE COMMON or WHITE PTARMIGAN, LAGOPUS 

 MUTUS, Fieillot. Tetrao lagopus. Linn., Penn., etc. 

 Lagopus mutus. Ptarmigan or White Grouse of 

 British authors. This bird, delicately marked in its 

 summer dress, and of a snowy whiteness in that of 

 winter, has generally been considered as a native of 

 both the American and European continents. The 

 comparison, however, of many specimens of grouse 

 which become white in winter, leads us to believe 

 that the distinction of species is still somewhat 

 undecided, and that the range or comparative abun- 

 dance of the British species is still undetermined. 

 We have seen, however, what we consider the 

 L. mutus, from artic America, and also among the 

 packages of birds which are said by the poulterers 

 to come from Norway; but many of the birds 

 mentioned by authors as " Ptarmigan," from various 

 localities, cannot always with certainty be referred 

 to that of Britain. 



In Great Britain it is a species confined to the 

 most alpine districts, and its only habitation now, 

 seems to be the high mountain ranges in the middle 

 of Scotland, increasing in abundance as the same 

 kind of wild country reaches to the north ; and it also 

 extends to the Hebrides. According to Pennant, 



