THE RED GROUSE PTARMIGAN. 171 



entire length is about sixteen inches, the weight 

 about one and a half pounds. 



According to Dr Richardson, the Willow Grouse 

 is partially migratory in the fur countries ; it breeds 

 in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, and, collecting 

 in flocks on the approach of winter, retires south- 

 ward as the severity of the weather increases. On 

 the shores of Hudson's Bay, it assembles in vast flocks 

 during winter, 10,000 being sometimes captured in 

 a single season. Greenland, Iceland, and the valleys 

 of the Alps, are almost their only habitations in the 

 old world, frequenting rather wet and brushy situa- 

 tions. In America, they shelter themselves among 

 the thickets of willow and dwarf birch. They pass 

 the night in holes in the snow, and when perceived, 

 practise a novel artifice in attempting to escape ; they 

 often terminate their flight by diving precipitately in- 

 to the loose snow, working their way with considerable 

 celerity beneath its surface. 



The next bird we shall notice is 



