THE PTAEMIGAX. lOo 



near Loch Tay. Amongst these almost inaccessible 

 heights you find them perched amongst the grey stones, 

 and in the summer they so nearly resemble the colour 

 of these stones, so as to make it rather difficult to dis- 

 tinguish the birds from them. Their flights are short 

 a»d circuitous, and they never fly high. There is no 

 difficulty in getting shots at the ptarmigan, as they lie 

 close amongst the rocks and stones. As regards its 

 own safety, it certainly may be considered as a stupid 

 bird, for you may sometimes approach within three 

 or four yards of it before it will take to flight. 

 When the weather is unsettled with wind and rain, the 

 ptarmigan are frequently shy and wild, and when 

 disturbed, instead of lying closer, take quickly to flight, 

 and by crossing some almost inaccessible ravine secure 

 their safety. The ptarmigan is in my estimation rather 

 an inferior bird to the grouse for the table. As I before 

 stated, we frequently had them at the table-d'hote at 

 Bagneres de Bigorre, in the Pja-enees. I never had 

 them at the hotels in Germany. 



In the winter the ptarmigan * T;\dll pack like the 

 grouse. They derive their principal safety from the 

 obstacles wnth which they are surrounded, for vigour and 

 agile limbs and caution are absolutely necessary in the 

 pursuit of these birds, and many young sportsmen, when 

 they are satiated with killing grouse have recourse to 

 this arduous exercise for the sake of variety in field- 

 spoi'ts, and to send some of these birds as presents to 

 their friends in the south. I have three stuffed ptarmi- 



* It is mentioned in "Daniel's Eural Sports," that a friend of his shot 

 in one day forty-tliree ptarmigan, above Loch Loggan, which lies be- 

 tween Daliwinnie and Fort Aiigustus ; in this district he also found tlu-ee 

 whistling plover and dottrel. 



