Birds of Britain 



THE PTARMIGAN 



Lagopus mutus (Alontin) 



Closely allied to the Red Grouse, the Ptarmigan is 

 found on the higher slopes of the Scottish Highlands from 

 Perthshire northwards. Elsewhere in these islands it is 

 unknown. 



In habits and food it hardly differs from the Grouse; 

 the nest is placed among stones on the ground, and the eggs, 

 except in being rather smaller and slightly lighter in colour, 

 are undistinguishable from those of that species. 



The Ptarmigan passes through a complicated plumage 

 cycle, having three distinct plumages ; in summer the male 

 is dark brown, vermiculated with grey on the head, breast, 

 and upper parts. Wings white, tail dark brown, belly 

 white. The female is pale yellowish brown, barred with 

 dark brown. In autumn the upper parts become slate 

 grey, finely vermiculated with dark brown, and in winter 

 both sexes are entirely white, except that the male has 

 black lores. Length 14- 5 in.; wing 7'75 in. 



Most of the so-called " Ptarmigan " in our poulterers' 

 shops are the Willow Grouse or " Ryper " from Scandinavia 

 and Russia. They may be distinguished by their larger 

 size and the absence, in the males, of the black lores. 



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