ATTAGIS MALOUINUS 133 



Azorella hummocks afford, as occasion requires, coign of vantage 

 or shelter from the wind. Spots frequented by them are 

 remarkable by their exactly Grouse-like droppings on the bare 

 green surface of the larger hummocks. 



They rise wild, and get away at a tremendous pace, making 

 a great to-do, twisting and skimming, crowing excitedly 

 " Tu-wkit^ tu-whit, tu-wMt^^ as long as they are on the wing. 

 Each time they compass a flight of several hundred yards ; 

 sometimes topping a rise or going round a slope like a Grouse, 

 leaving no clue to their line beyond. Usually, they alight on 

 some commanding spot, where it is possible to mark them. It 

 often requires manoeuvring to get up to these birds a second 

 time. If walked on direct, they usually fly before one comes 

 within shot. The best way is, to work round in a lessening 

 circle. When nearly approached in this manner, they manifest 

 uneasiness — shuflling round and round and moving hither and 

 thither — as Red Grouse sometimes do in similar circumstances. 



It was spring-time when I was on the Cheena Creek Moun- 

 tains ; hence my finding them in pairs. At other times of the 

 year, no doubt, their habits are otherwise. In the depths of 

 winter they are said to pack in large numbers, and when the 

 snow is deep are sometimes seen on the lowland flats. As far as 

 my observations go, their food is exclusively the crowberry 

 {Empetrum nigrum)^ varied with a small black seed the size of rape. 

 The droppings exactly resemble those of Red Grouse, differing 

 only in being smaller. They are compact massive birds, 

 weighing about one pound. As compared with Thinocorus, 

 they are more massive in proportion. The plumage not only 

 resembles that of a Grouse in general colouring and markings, 

 but the feathers are as soft and as easily disarranged, coming 

 away freely when shot, and sticking up or lying down in 

 patches. The contour of the head and bill is exceedingly 

 Grouse-like ; the skin is delicate ; the flesh is red and somewhat 

 similarly flavoured. 



The Ona name is " Toshti.^^ 



