Plumage and its Meaning 



aspect of its haunts, the latter tints being emphasised at 

 a time when the scanty vegetation is scorched up and 

 beginning to fade. Then comes the period of the winter 

 snows, when the mountain-tops are draped in a white 

 pall which hangs over them until the following spring. 

 But the ptarmigan again changes its dress and the browns 

 and greys are discarded and a plumage of dazzling 

 whiteness assumed in their place. White ground and 

 white birds harmonise together, and the ptarmigan lies 

 safe in its disguise until, with the melting of the snow, 

 his browns and yellows are resumed with the changing 

 year and the cycle of plumal change is complete." 



In the Arctic regions many birds assume this summer 

 plumage. The willow grouse is dressed in brown during 

 the summer and assumes white raiment for the winter. 

 The snowy owl and Arctic falcon have permanently white 

 apparel. The snow bunting, who frequents the droppings 

 of animals, is black and white, an admixture which owing 

 to his peculiar habits renders him less conspicuous than 

 would be the case were he pure white. A curious case is 

 that of the jet-black raven, who retains his funeral garb 

 even in the Arctic circles, and so becomes a conspicuous 

 object. But the raven is well able to take care of himself 

 and requires no plumal aids to help him through the 

 world. 



Having briefly reviewed various avian liveries which are 

 obviously designed for the protection of the wearers, let 

 us pass to certain bright markings which render their 

 owners conspicuous and for a purpose. What is the 

 object of these showy markings? Their possessors are 

 birds which live in flocks for the most part, and the con- 

 spicuous markings of the individuals serve a useful purpose 

 as identification marks for those birds which may stray 

 from the flock. In addition to their garb, these gregarious 

 birds usually give vent to certain call notes, with the 

 further object of enabling the members of the flock to 

 keep in touch with one another. A party of long-tailed 



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