76 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



than the Red Grouse; there is more variety in its 

 economy, and the bird itself is one of the most 

 beautiful examples of protective coloration that the 

 entire range of organic life can show. Our first 

 acquaintance with the Ptarmigan was made nearly 



The Ptarmigan. 



twenty years ago, near the summit of the Cuchullin 

 Hills in Skye. Although the time was May, patches 

 of snow were lying in the hollows and a cold pierc- 

 ing wind swept along the hillsides. Lower down 

 the slopes we had lingered to watch the gambols 

 of a pair of Ravens that were haunting the rocks; 

 whilst a Peregrine Falcon had just swept by. Upon 

 a small piece of level ground we flushed several 

 Ptarmigan, one after the other, that had been lying 



