155 



Family TETBAONHm 



Genus LAGOPUS. 



Lagopus, Brisson, Orn. i. pp. 181, 216 (1760). 

 Tetrao apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 275 (1766). 

 Attagen apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 170 (1829). 

 Oreias apud Kaup, torn. cit. p. 177 (1829). 



The Ptarmigan inhabit the northern portions and the elevated mountain-ranges in the central 

 parts of the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, five out of the six species known being inhabitants 

 of the Western Pakearctic Eegion. 



These birds frequent rocky mountainous localities, swampy mosses, and open heaths and 

 country covered with cranberry- and blueberry-bushes and stunted brushwood. They are always 

 found away from the forests, in the open country, and never perch on trees like the Grouse. 

 They walk with ease, and when disturbed will squat and hide, or else take wing at once. Their 

 flight is direct, strong, and well sustained ; and when they rise they do so rather noisily. They 

 feed on seeds, berries, and shoots of plants of various kinds. In the early autumn they are 

 found in family parties or coveys ; but later in the season they collect in large packs and ramble 

 about the country in search of food. They are monogamous, and breed tolerably early in the 

 season, their nest being a depression in the ground, very scantily lined ; and their eggs, which are 

 numerous, are pale olivaceous, richly blotched and spotted with dark brown. The young birds 

 are able to run and hide almost directly they emerge from the shell. 



Lagopus mutus, the type of the genus, has the bill short, stout, slightly curved, the upper 

 mandible decurved, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip thin-edged and rounded ; nostrils 

 oblong, basal, lateral, concealed by short feathers ; wings short, broad, much rounded, the first 

 quill shorter than the sixth, the third longest ; tail moderately short, slightly rounded ; legs 

 rather short ; tarsus and toes feathered to the claws ; claws rather long, arched, depressed, the 

 edges thin, the tips obtuse ; plumage full, close, compact. All the species but one become white 

 in the winter. 



168 



