74 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



adults. Young in down brownish buff, with darker 

 markings above, paler below. 



Language. The male makes a crowing sound, and 

 when alarmed utters a loud " ko-bek." Female makes 

 a croaking noise. 



Habits. Strictly monogamous. When alarmed it 

 usually runs some little distance before taking to wing. 

 Flight powerful and rapid. It often feigns injury when 

 the nest or young are in jeopardy. Very seldom perches 

 on trees. 



Food. Heather-shoots and shoots of other plants, 

 berries, and grain. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In some little hollow in the ground under tuft 

 of heather. 



Materials. A few grasses and heather-stalks, perhaps 

 a few feathers. 



Eggs. Six to twelve, or more. Yellowish white, 

 clouded, blotched, and spotted with dark umber- 

 brown. 



PTARMIGAN (Lagopus mutus). 



Unknown in England and Ireland. Fairly common 

 on some of the high moors and mountains of 

 Scotland. 



Plumage. Summer : head, breast, and upper parts 

 ash-brown, barred, waved, and pencilled with dusky. 

 Wings, under tail-coverts, and two central tail feathers 

 white. Belly white ; outer tail feathers black, more or 

 less tipped with white ; over eye a bright vermilion 

 skin-patch. Bill, blackish brown. Legs and feet 

 covered with white feathers. Length 15 in. Female, 

 orange-tawny, barred with black. Winter : both sexes 

 pure white ; the male having a black line from bill 

 through eye (absent in the female), and outer tail- 

 feathers black. Young in down much like Red 

 Grouse. 



