PTARMIGAN. 31 



crevice, undistinguishable from the dull and cold mud into 

 which the storms of many winters have abraded the granite. 

 You are above the reach of all sound from the inhabited 

 parts of the country ; and as one cannot think very long 

 upon bare rocks and blue skies, however sublime they may be 

 in themselves, or however novel the visit to them may be, 

 there is a wish for some living creature, to share even that 

 unproductive scene along with you. 



A few mottled pebbles, or at least what appear to be such, 

 each about twice the size of your hand, lie at some distance, 

 where the decomposed rock, and the rudiments of what may 

 be called the most elevated mountain vegetation, just begin 

 to ruffle the surface. By-and-by, a cloud shadows the sun, 

 the air blows chill as November, and a few drops fall, freezing 

 or melting in their descent, you cannot well tell which. 

 The mottled pebbles begin to move : you throw a stone at 

 them, to show that you can move pebbles as well as the 

 mountain. The stone hits beyond them ; they run towards 

 your feet, as if claiming your protection : they are birds, - 

 ptarmigan, the uppermost tenants of the island, whom not 

 even winds which could uproot forests, and frosts which 

 could all but congeal mercury, can drive from these their 

 mountain haunts. It has often been observed, that of all the 

 human inhabitants of the earth, the mountaineer, be his 

 mountain ever so barren, is the last to quit ; and the same 

 holds true of the mountain bird. 



The ptarmigan, though not only constantly resident in the 

 country, but constantly resident in very nearly the same 

 locality, is perhaps less seen than almost any of our perma- 

 nent birds. It is not nearly so often seen in the dead state 

 as the red grous, because it is much less abundant, and its 

 flesh is less juicy and of inferior flavour. It is, however, a 

 very interesting bird, both from the peculiarity of its haunts, 

 and from what may be called the simplicity of its habits. 

 Enemies, in its native regions, the ptarmigan has compara- 



