PTARMIGAN SHOOTING. 99 



third quill ; of the tarsus, one inch five-eighths, equal- 

 ling that of the centre toe, nail included; the nail 

 about five-eighths. On the upper parts, the dark or 

 ground colour of the feathers is deep brownish, or 

 pitch black ; but each feather is cut into, or partially 

 barred, with ochreous-yellow, on the back and tail 

 coverts, being tipped and edged with a much paler 

 tint, sometimes approaching to yellowish white ; the 

 quills, secondaries, and shoulders are pure white; 

 the shafts of the former black, and having sometimes 

 a brownish black tint accompanying their length ; the 

 tail contains sixteen feathers ; the outer pair are 

 edged with white along the outer web ; and, with the 

 next six, on each side, are dull black, white at the 

 tips, where they are also slightly worn ; the upper 

 coverts reach within a quarter of an inch of the end of 

 the tail. On the cheeks, throat, neck, and breast, 

 the yellow and pale markings predominate to a 

 greater extent; and, on the latter, assume more the 

 form of bars; on the belly, flank, and other lower 

 parts, the yellow markings still prevail, and assume a 

 greater space in the form of transverse broken masses, 

 while, in the lower part of the breast and centre of 

 the belly, there are many pure white feathers, which 

 give a paler or more hoary shade to these parts ; the 

 tarsi and half of the toes only are strongly feathered ; 

 the nails are brownish black, pale at the base." Now 

 the size of the common ptarmigan is from fourteen to 

 sixteen inches in the male bird, and sometimes 

 larger; in the female fourteen inches. Sir W. 



