COMMON PTARMIGAN. 435 



On the Rocky Mountains south of lat. 63° it is founds together with a 

 nearly allied and probahly distinct specieSj Lagopus leucurus, distinguished 

 by having the tail white at all seasons of the year. The range of this 

 species extends southwards throughout the Rocky Mountains, and on their 

 western spurs in British Columbia and the Washington Territory. Inter- 

 mediate formsj however, with more or less white at the base of the tail, 

 occur on the Pyrenees, and were shot by Captain Feilden about lat. 82^° 

 in Grinnell Land, and are said to be the only variety on Spitzbergen. 

 The latter might fairly claim to be regarded as a subspecies, under the 

 name of L. mutus var. hemileucurus, on the ground of their larger size. 

 Examples from Spitzbergen vary in length of wing from 8'9 to 8"6 inch, 

 whilst the typical form only measures from 7'9 to 7'2 inch. European 

 examples, which must be regarded as the typical form, are apparently 

 in the adult male much darker-coloured, especially on the breast, in spring 

 plumage than those from other localities ; but no difference can be dis- 

 covered in the autumn plumage or in that of the female. Scotch examples 

 are said to be intermediate in this respect. None of the examples that 

 I have seen in spring plumage, obtained in Iceland or within the Arctic 

 circle in either the Old World or the New, have the dark breast ; they 

 may be distinguished as L. mutus var. rupestris. Of the South-Siberian 

 and Japanese birds I have not been able to see males in spring plumage, 

 and am therefore unable to say to which form they belong. 



The haunts of the Ptarmigan in our southern latitudes are on or near 

 the summits of the highest mountains, in a region where solitude and rocks 

 are the predominant features of the scene, Many of these summits are 

 somewhat barren plateaux strewed with stones, and studded here and 

 there with large boulders, but abounding with ground-fruits of various 

 kinds, though in some places large patches of snow are always to be found 

 in the hollows. The plumage of the Ptarmigan in summer so closely 

 resembles surrounding objects that the traveller may often wander through 

 a flock of them without knowing it ; whilst in winter, when the mountain- 

 tops are deep in snow, the white plumage which it assumes at that season 

 is its principal shield from its numerous enemies. Many of the habits of 

 the Ptarmigan closely resemble those of the Red Crouse. Like that bird 

 it is fond of perching on the large boulders. Its mode of progression, its 

 food, and its monogamous habits are also very much the same. The 

 Ptarmigan only uses its wings when absolutely compelled, and always 

 strives to elude pursuit by running or crouching low and motionless 

 amongst the rough broken ground. Its flight is so rapid that even the 

 Peregrine or the Arctic Falcons are often hard pushed to fly it down. 

 The note of the Ptarmigan is not so loud and clear as that of the Red 

 Grouse, and is said to resemble the croaking of a frog uttered in a low 

 tone. 



