PTARMIGAN 181 



Of course in describing the various changes in the 

 plumage of the Ptarmigan that take place during the 

 different months there can be no fixed rule for saying 

 that the bird will be in such and such a plumage to a 

 day ; but the rule will be found to be correct to within a 

 fortnight of the time specified, which will give enough 

 lateral range either way for the birds to be premature or 

 late in their feather-casting, as that varies entirely accord- 

 ing to the season. For instance, in winters commencing 

 verv severelv with much snow, I have seen Ptarmigan in 



* o 



full winter plumage on 1st November; and in mild and 

 warm winters it is not at all unusual to see them retain 

 one or two of the old autumn feathers on the back and 

 neck throughout the entire season, and about the middle 

 of February begin to put forth the first feathers of the 

 summer. 



Writing, however, on the subject of the plumages of 

 birds is never very interesting to the general reader, who 

 can learn more in a few seconds by looking carefully over 

 illustrations. I can therefore only refer him to the illustra- 

 tions of plumage at the beginning of this chapter on the 

 Ptarmigan, and he can then judge for himself and analyse 

 the various stages through w^hich these interesting birds 

 pass. I have taken especial care in giving examples of 

 the whole series, so that none are omitted. 



One would imagine that, from the close association and 

 similarity of structure of the two species, Grouse and 

 Ptarmigan would frequently be found breeding together ; 

 but such is far from the case. There is no perfectly 

 authenticated instance of such a hybrid, and I have only 

 given the illustration of this supposed cross because it is 



