THE PTARMIGAN. 91 



disablement when its young are in danger, but the latter 

 very quickly learn to conceal themselves among the grey 

 rocks and stones, which so closely resemble the colour of 

 their feathers. 



The Ptarmigan pairs early in the spring, and the eggs 

 are laid in June and hatched in about three weeks. The 

 male takes no part in the rearing of the brood, but the 

 female evinces the greatest attachment for her young. 

 The nest is composed of a small quantity of heather or 

 grass, placed in a hollow or on the bare ground. The eggs 

 vary in number from seven to twelve, and are of a 

 yellowish- white, sparingly blotched with dark brown ; they 

 are about one inch and a-half in length and of an oval shape. 

 The male leaves his mate after the young are hatched, 

 and rejoins his family at a subsequent period, when a 

 number of other families congregate and remain together. 



The food of the Ptarmigan is for the greatest part 

 Alpine berries, seeds, and the tender shoots of plants and 

 heather, but the young are largely fed upon insects. 



The note of this bird varies considerably, sometimes 

 being quite low, and not dissimilar to that of the Missel 

 Thrush, whilst at other times it is loud, prolonged, and 

 hoarse ; the call is heard both in flight and when the bird 

 is on the ground. 



In winter the male Ptarmigan has the beak, the lore, 

 and a small angular patch behind the eye black; the 

 irides yellowish-brown ; over the eye is a naked red skin. 

 Almost all the plumage is pure white ; the four upper 

 tail feathers white, the others black, tipped with white ; 

 the legs and toes (which are thickly feathered, excepting 

 the soles) are white, and the claws black. 



From May to November the throat is white, but 



