AERIAL 217 



is the ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus], first cousin of the red grouse 

 (Lagopus scoticus), and the willow-grouse (Lagopus albus). It is 

 interesting in having a triple moult. " Both sexes not only 

 moult after the breeding season is over into a grey suit, and then 

 again as autumn passes away into their snowy winter clothing, 

 but, divesting themselves of the last in spring, at that time put 

 on each a third and most distinctive dress, these changes, how- 

 ever, do not extend to the quills either of the wings or tail " 

 (Newton). 1 It is technically called mutus, but that is unfortunate, 

 since the bird has a snorting cry startling enough in its lofty 

 solitudes. 



Among the other birds of the mountains we may note the 

 snow-bunting, a winter visitor which has been known to nest 

 in Scotland, though it usually retires farther north in spring. 

 But we can only mention the eagle, peregrine falcon, raven, 

 twite, and (in summer) abundant golden plover and a few 

 dotterel. If we take the mountain streams and mountain tarns 

 into account, we may add such birds as the grey wagtail and 

 the red-throated diver (in summer). 



As in other cases, it is difficult to give characteristic illustra- 

 tions of the humbler life of the mountains. I have seen the 

 viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara) and the common frog high 

 up on the hills, and the adder is also a climber. There are snails 

 and slugs to be looked for and interesting microscopic animals 

 among the bog-moss. Most obvious, however, is the abundance 



(1) of insects (small midges, large butterflies, ground beetles), and 



(2) of spiders among the rocks and the heather. 





AERIAL 



The last region to be possessed by animals was the air, and we 

 include most insects, most birds, and the bats in the aerial fauna. 

 The flying-fishes take enormous leaps, using their pectoral 

 fins as parachutes, the web-footed tree-frogs jump boldly from 

 branch to branch, the little lizard known as Draco volans has 

 its skin spread out on elongated ribs and is able to swoop from 

 tree to tree, a few arboreal Mammals have the same power. 



L 1 See (Newton) p. 222. 



