78 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



remark that the Peregrine we had seen a short time 

 before must have flown right over the spot where 

 these Ptarmigan were crouching. Possibly the 

 recent appearance of the Falcon had made them lie 

 closer than usual, and rendered them loth to take 

 wing. With the exception of a few weeks in the 

 very depth of winter, the Ptarmigan is more or less 

 changing in colour throughout the year. In mid- 

 winter, as most readers may know, the bird is pure 

 unsullied white, with the exception of a jet-black 

 patch in front of the eye in the male, and the outer- 

 most tail-feathers, which are black in both sexes. 

 In early spring, sometimes it is said by the middle 

 or end of February, the first signs of the coming 

 summer plumage are seen on the neck, and during 

 the three succeeding months the birds undergo a 

 complete transformation, the feathers on the breast, 

 it should be noted, being assumed last of all. It is 

 a significant fact that the parts of the plumage least 

 exposed, such as the flight feathers and the feathers 

 on the belly, present the smallest amount of change 

 from the white winter dress. This is more apparent 

 in the male than in the female, doubtless owing to 

 the fact that the latter is more liable to injury whilst 

 brooding on the nest. Broadly speaking, in the 

 male in summer plumage the upper parts and the 

 breast and flanks are dark-brown, more or less 

 mottled, and barred with gray and buff; whilst in 



