RED PTARMIGAN. 
295 
ill Wales, and are very common in the highlands 
of Scotland, and the mountains and bogs of 
Ireland : in winter they associate in flocks of 
forty or fifty in number, and become remarkably 
wild and shy : they never resort to woods, but 
confine themselves wholly to the open moors and 
the summits of the heathy hills ; feeding on the 
mountain berries and the tender tops of the heath. 
They pair in spring, and the females lay from 
eight to fourteen eggs, much like those of the 
Black Grous, but smaller, in a rude nest upon the 
ground. The young brood follow the hen till the 
approach of winter, when they unite with several 
others into packs. 
They have often been known to breed in 
confinement, several instances being on record. 
Their flesh is excellent food, but very soon cor- 
rupts. 
The Red Ptarmigans are stated by Temminck 
to be natives of various parts of the Continent, 
particularly the north ; and I understand that 
Captain Carmicael killed them in the island Tristan 
da Cunha, which is situated between the Cape of 
Good Hope and St. Helena. 
