PTARMIGAN, 
LAGOPUS MUTUS (Montin). 
Tetrao mutus, Montin, Phys. Silsk. Handl. p. 155 (1770). 
Tetrao lagopus, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 274 (1776); Naum. vi. 
p. 401; Hewitson, i. p. 280. 
Lagopus cinereus, Macg. i. p. 187. 
Lagopus mutus, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 83; Dresser, vii. p. 157. 
Perdrix blanche, Gélinotte blanche, French; Alpen-Schnee- 
huhn, German; Perdiz blanca, Spanish. 
This species is now only to be met with in Great 
Britain amongst the summits of the highest mountain- 
ranges in Scotland; the change from the breeding- 
plumage depicted on Plate 10 into the grey dress of 
Plate 11 is effected by a complete moult or change of 
feathers, whilst the pure white of the winter is acquired 
by change of colour in the old feathers. 
The Ptarmigan appears to brave the most severe 
stress of winter weather in its alpine haunts, rarely 
coming down into the heather below them; its food 
consists of mountain-berries of different species, and the 
shoots of various alpine plants. The alarm-note of the 
old male is a very remarkable guttural croak. As a 
rule these birds are not difficult of approach, and 
merely attempt to escape observation by crouching 
amongst the lichen-covered fragments of rock which 
form their favourite resort. 
