16 FHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



winter garb. A few of the more obvious instances of these 

 changes, in British species, may be here produced. 



Among quadrupeds, the Alpine hare (Lepus varidbills) 

 Is a very remarkable example. It is found, in this country, 

 on the high mountains of the Grampian range. Its sum- 

 mer dress is of a tawny grey colour ; but, about the month 

 of September, its fur gradually changes to a snowy white- 

 ness. It continues in this state during the winter, and re- 

 sumes its plainer covering again in the month of April or 

 May, according to the season. The ermine is another of 

 our native quadrupeds which exhibits in its dress similar 

 changes of colour according to the season. It frequents 

 the outskirts of woods and thickets. During the summer 

 months, its hair is of a pale reddish brown colour ; in har- 

 vest it becomes clouded with pale yellow; and, in the 

 month of November, with us, it is of a snow white colour. 

 Its winter dress furnishes the valuable fur called ermine. 

 Early in spring, the white becomes freckled with brown, 

 and in the month of May it completely resumes its summer 

 garb. 



Among the feathered tribes such instances of change of 

 colour in the plumage during winter are numerous. They 

 greatly perplex the ornithologist, and have been the means 

 of introducing into the system several spurious species. 

 The white grous or ptarmigan (Tetrao lagopus) may be 

 produced as a familiar example of this kind of hybernation. 

 This bird, like the Alpine hare^ inhabits the higher Gram- 

 pians, and is never/ound at a great distance from the limits 

 of the snow. In summer its plumage is of an ash colour, 

 mottled with small dusky spots and bars. At the approach 

 of winter the dark colours disappear, and its feathers are 

 then found to be pure white. In remarkably mild winters 

 the change is sometimes incomplete, a few dusky spots of 

 the summer dress remaining. In spring its winter garb 



