POULTRY TRIBE. 261 



high and strong; affording excellent sport after 

 a favourable breeding season ; but as the year 

 advances, the birds get strong, and from being 

 disturbed, become wild, and uniting in packs, it is 

 very difficult to get shots at them. The weight of 

 this grouse is about twenty-four ounces. 



The PTARMIGAN, or white grouse, is the smallest 

 in size of the British grouse. It is now only to 

 be found on the highest summits of the lofty 

 ranges of mountains in the central and northern 

 parts of Scotland, and on some of the western 

 isles. It is said to have formerly existed in 

 Wales, but half a century, at least, must have 

 elapsed since its occurrence in that principality. 

 Its haunts are among the snow-covered peaks and 

 bleak rocks far above the heathery regions 

 inhabited by the grouse. 



It is a very interesting bird, both from the 

 peculiarity of its haunts and its habits. Although 

 much less abundant than the red-grouse, it does 

 not seem to run any risk of extermination, for the 

 inaccessible nature of its retreats, puts it beyond 

 the reach of the sportsman, who is not tempted to 

 incur the necessary fatigue by the chance of any 

 other game; excepting, indeed, the grey hare, 

 which seems to share with the ptarmigan these 

 inhospitable regions. By the same means it is 

 protected from animals of prey, as it is above the 



