GROUSE AND PTARMIGAN. 



395 



processes fringing the sides of the toes and producing a comb-like appearance ; 

 these being absent in the pheasants, while none of the grouse have spurs on the legs. 

 True Grouse and Perhaps no members of this group of birds are more interesting 

 Ptarmigan, than the ptarmigan and its allies, on account of the seasonal changes 

 of plumage they undergo in order that they may assimilate themselves to the 

 colour of their surroundings, and be thus protected from their numerous enemies. 

 In the ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) three changes of plumage, summer, autumn, 

 and winter, take place ; during winter both sexes of the common species 

 becoming pure white, with the exception of the outer tail-feathers, which are 

 black ; the male being distinguished by the presence of a small black patch in 



PTARMIGAN IN SUMMER DRESS. 



front of the eye. It must, however, be remarked that absolutely pure white 

 plumage on the back is not often met with in Scotch examples, except in unusually 

 severe winters : there being generally a few of the greyish autumn feathers left in 

 the plumage of the upper-parts which are neither replaced by white ones nor turn 

 white. On the other hand, in such examples as inhabit colder climates, like 

 the north of Scandinavia, the male at least rarely dons the full summer and autumn 

 plumages, a number of white winter feathers being retained throughout the 

 summer, and in some instances only the head, mantle, and chest change colour, the 

 rest of the plumage remaining white. It would thus seem that in those countries 

 where the summer is of short duration, sufficient time is not allowed for the full 

 summer and autumn changes to be effected before winter sets in once more ; and 

 no doubt this parti-coloured plumage affords even better protection in such 



