200 



cassell's boor of birds. 



same pitiable mien, and ultimately hides herself behind a bush, waiting for tlie moment when she 

 may once more venture to call her chicks together. Ofttimes has a female Fjall Ripa approached so 

 near me in the way I have described that I could have killed her with my foot." 



The Lagopiis Alpinus is pursued by many feathered enemies, and when hard pressed sometimes 

 takes refuge in the hut of the Laplander or among his reindeer. " Of all the genus Teirao," says 

 Mr. Lloyd, " this species is the least in request in Scandinavia, but if well dressed I have always 

 found it very palatable, and little inferior to the Lagopiis albiis." 



THE RED GROUSE, BROWN PTARMIGAN, OR GAR COCK. 

 The Red Grouse, Brown Ptarmigan, or Gar Cock {Lagopus Scoticus), closely resembles the 



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THE ALPINE PTARMIGAN [Lagofus Alpinus), IN SUMMER PLUMAGE. ONE-THIRD NATURAL .SIZE. 



above bird in its general appearance during the summer, but is without the white feathers in the 

 wngs, and has the feet covered with plumage of a greyish hue, spotted with brown. The feathers on 

 the head and nape are light reddish brown, spotted with black ; those on the back and wing-covers 

 are spotted in the centre mth black ; the throat-feathers are red, those on the back and belly 

 dark purplish brown, with numerous markings ; the quills are dark brown, and the quill-feathers, 

 except the four in its centre (which are striped red and black) are entirely black ; the plumage on the 

 legs has a reddish shade and dark markings ; the tarsi and toes are covered with whitish feathers. 

 The eye is nut-bro-wn, the beak black, and the powerful claws of a whitish hue. The female is darker 

 than her mate, has white spots on her breast and belly, and some of her wing-feathers tipped with 

 white. This species is fifteen inches long and twenty-six broad ; the female is not quite so long. 



The Red Grouse is peculiar to Great Britain and Ireland, not having been found in any 

 other part of the world, and is especially abundant in Scotland, inhabiting heathy tracts from the 



