WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



having our summer, for the seasons are late in the 

 mountain districts of Scotland. 



At different times I have seen a fair number of 

 these birds ; indeed any one wishing to see the 

 changes of plumage I have mentioned, can see them 

 in the South Kensington Museum of Natural His- 

 tory. Thousands of so-called ptarmigan come to 

 this country ; but these are really willow-grouse in 

 winter plumage. They are larger than real ptarmi- 

 gan. A cock ptarmigan can be picked out from any 

 number of willow-grouse easily ; for the ptarmigan 

 has a black streak running from the base of the bill 

 to the eye, and a little beyond it, which the willow- 

 grouse has not. Some have risked their lives in 

 order to be able to give the life-habits of the ptar- 

 migan to the public ; others have spent large sums 

 to enable them to see the birds on their nests, and 

 to see them with their young. If they had not done 

 this, those who do take some interest in natural life 

 ,and its surroundings would not have been able to 

 see what they do now, close to their own homes in 

 London. 



One of the noblest of the game-birds that England 



