DESCRIPTIOX OF PTARMIGAX. 107 



and neck, where there is a great mixture of red, with bars 

 of white. The tail consists of sixteen feathers, the two 

 middle of which are ash colour, mottled with black, and 

 tipped with white. The two next black, slightly marked 

 with white at the ends. The feathers incumbent on the 

 tail are white, and almost entirely cover it. Their feet 

 are clothed with feathers to the claws. The nails are 

 long, broad, and hollow. The first, guards them from 

 the rigour of- the winter, the latter enables them to 

 form a lods^e amono: the snow. 



