174 Order XI 



a third or autumn dress. In south-west Scotland, and 

 possibly in the English Lake district, this species used 

 once to be found; now it is confined to the higher 

 Scottish mountains, for it is always an inhabitant of 

 stony lull-tops, which it only leaves for somewhat lower 

 altitudes in time of snow. On these stony slopes or 

 flats it lays eight or more eggs, generally redder than 

 those of its congener, with little if any nest, and there 

 the birds pack after breeding. In similar spots the 

 Ptarmigan is found from Scandinavia to the Urals, 

 as well as in the Pyrenees, Alps, and the mountains 

 of Austria; but in Spitsbergen a larger species takes 

 its place, while in Iceland, Greenland, and at lower 

 altitudes in Arctic America and north Asia stiU other 

 species occur. The croaking cry of the cock, as he 

 keeps watch near the sitting hen, is often the only 

 bird's note heard on the desolate wastes of stones ; 

 the flight is fairly strong and fast, and the food of the 

 same nature as in the Red Grouse, with a less pro- 

 portion of heather-shoots. 



Family PHASIANID.Si, or Pheasants, Partridges 

 and Quails 



We may spare ourselves the description of the 

 Pheasant {Phasianus colchicus), which is to be seen in 

 every game-dealer's shop, but content ourselves with 

 remarking that the white collar, seldom absent from the 

 cock, is due to a cross with the Chinese ring-necked 

 species, and with calling attention to his brilliant 

 plumage as opposed to the brownish and comparatively 

 short-tailed hen. Many other kinds of Pheasants have 

 recently been introduced to Britain, but the typical 

 bird dates back to about the time of William the 



