THE GROUSE SUBFAMILY 19 



light, easy of excavation, and are, in fact, already ramified in every 

 direction with grouse-burrows and tunnels long before that subse- 

 quent stage when severe frosts shall have indurated its substance and 

 steeled its surface. Beyond that, the grouse have here provided, not 

 merely a winter home, but more important still a full winter's stock 

 of provisions. For these early autumnal snows hold enclosed within 

 their soft and easily excavated recesses the whole abundant crop of 

 Arctic wild fruits and berries, 'preserved' for the birds' winter needs, 

 and guarded by the frost-steeled roof above against risks of decay." 

 But when strong winds sweep clear the weather slopes of the hills, he 

 remarks, grouse stay aboveground, gathering in large packs to feed 

 on the heather swept clear of snow. Thus, according to Mr. Chapman, 

 there is little or no migration takes place as a consequence of inclement 

 weather ; the birds adapt themselves to the prevailing conditions 

 where snow falls deep they burrow, where it is blown into drifts, leaving 

 bare places, they stay and make the best of it. Be this as it may, it 

 reveals a discrepancy in observation of one of our most jealously 

 guarded birds which is difficult to account for, and seems to show 

 that those who are most zealous in their slaughter are least interested 

 in their mode of life ! It does not seem possible that Mr. Millais and 

 Mr. Chapman can both be right. What, then, are the facts of the 

 case ? That such a question should have to be asked to-day is aston- 

 ishing. Yet there are many who gravely assure us that there is 

 nothing more to be learnt about British Birds ! ! 



The curious, and apparently almost unknown, burrowing habits 

 described by Mr. Abel Chapman in the case of the red and willow- 

 grouse naturally lead us to ask, What of the ptarmigan in this respect ? 

 If no mistake has been made in regard to the two first-named species, 

 the last, one would imagine, would certainly also elect to spend the 

 winter months in a similar retreat. Yet I have been unable to find 

 any records of such fact. Heavy snowstorms unaccompanied by wind, 

 resulting in a uniform mantle of deep snow cutting off' their food- 

 supply, will drive them to lower levels. If there be wind, exposing 



