PTARMIGAN. 373 



THE PTARMIGAN is the smallest in size of the British 

 Grouse ; and though considered to have been formerly an 

 inhabitant of the mountain ridges of Cumberland and 

 "Westmoreland, it is now only found as a British bird 

 among the grey rocks on the highest ranges of hills in the 

 central and northern parts of Scotland, in the Hebrides, 

 and in the Orkneys. It was not met with by Mr. Dunn 

 in Shetland. 



The name of Ptarmigan is but a slight modification of 

 the Gaelic word, Tarmachan. This Grouse is not found 

 now in any part of Ireland, not even in the north, where 

 it might have been expected. The Red Grouse, as I am 

 informed by Mr. William Thompson, is the only species 

 of Grouse now to be found in Ireland, where it inhabits 

 most of the suitable localities. 



The Ptarmigan pairs early in spring, and lays eight or 

 ten eggs, frequently on the bare ground, among stones. 

 The eggs are yellowish white, sparingly blotched and 

 spotted with dark brown ; the length one inch eight lines, 

 by one inch two lines in breadth. The food of these birds 

 is the various sorts of alpine berries, seeds, and the tender 

 shoots of alpine plants. Mr. Selby says, the note, or com- 

 mon call, of the Ptarmigan, is not unlike that of the Missel 

 Thrush, but rather more harsh in sound. Mr. Macgillivray 

 compares the sound of the Ptarmigan's voice to the croak 

 of a frog. At the commencement of the shooting season, 

 the broods, or small families, go together ; and Mr. Gould 

 has very justly observed, that the mountain Ptarmigans 

 are less wary and shy in their disposition than the other 

 Grouse, doubtless in consequence of being less disturbed 

 by man, against whom the elevated regions they inhabit 

 present an obstacle of too formidable a nature to be often 

 encountered. Pennant and others have said that they are 

 very silly birds, so tame as to bear driving like poultry, 



