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and Inverness-shire, in all suitable localities, it is met with abundantly, preferring, however, as ft 

 rule, the larger masses of mountain land to the isolated peaks. Possibly a reason for this pre- 

 ference may be found in the fact that there are more sheltered corries and greater variety of 

 feeding-ground in the former. In Aberdeenshire, on Lochnagar and Ben Muicdhui, they are 

 found in abundance, but on the western mountains of the same range are comparatively scarce, 

 in this case, however, owing to the nature of the mountain-summits — which are not so suited to 

 their habits, being less stony, more deeply covered with moss, and not bearing mountain-berries 

 in such quantities. In Skye they are found among the Cuchullin Hills, but not in great 

 numbers, and in Harris and Lewis are comparatively scarce. Southward through Perthshire 

 they are, generally speaking, scarcer, but in certain localities a fair number may be met with. 



(i I am indebted to Mr. James Lumsden, Arden, for the following note on the Ptarmigan 

 in the neighbourhood of Loch Lomond. ' In this district,' he writes, ' the Ptarmigan has greatly 

 decreased in numbers. There are still, however, a few birds to be found on Ben Lomond ; and 

 for several years one pair at least has nested there every season. On the Cobbler they are rather 

 more plentiful, but are by no means common even on the rugged top. Occasional birds are met 

 with on the hills above Luss ; but they are only stragglers, the only breeeding-grounds I have 

 ever heard of in the district being the two mountains above mentioned.' 



" In Arran, as I am informed by the Duke of Hamilton's head gamekeepers in the north 

 and south of the island, the Ptarmigan became nearly, if not quite, extinct about the year 1856. 

 At all events none were observed in Arran after that date until fresh blood was introduced in 

 1867. This reintroduction was effected by bringing a few young birds from the north of Scotland. 

 Since then the species has not steadily increased in numbers, nor is it considered likely that they 

 will ever become very numerous, the mountain-ranges being of no great extent, and the whole 

 area occupied by them being of inconsiderable size. Two years ago, however, some tourists saw 

 no less than sixteen in one day, probably one or two coveys. 



" As far as my experience goes, Ptarmigan, wherever they occur, are scarcer on the extreme 

 summits of the mountains than at a lower elevation ; and those shot upon the level deserts of 

 stones in the higher and more exposed situations are found to be smaller birds. I know this to 

 be the case in certain districts, not only from hearsay (i. e. information received from shepherds, 

 gamekeepers, and others who are constantly amidst their haunts), but likewise from my own 

 repeated observations, and from a comparison of specimens. So remarkable is this difference in 

 size sometimes, that when on the wing these higher-ranging birds appear as pigmies compared 

 with those found lower down. Moreover the smaller birds assume the winter dress much sooner 

 and retain it longer. 



" Writing to me upon the subject of our Scotch Ptarmigan, Professor Newton informed me 

 that the above facts fully bear out similar observations made by him on the Ptarmigan in Norway. 

 la 1834 Mr. Selby was under the impression that Lagopus rupestris (Gm.) had been obtained 

 from the Ben-More range, in Sutherland. Professor Newton writes me that there can be little 

 doubt that the mistake arose from the fact that the orange-yellow summer dress of the female 

 Lagopus mutus was not at that time generally known to naturalists, but was supposed by them 

 to be peculiar to the North-American species. Therefore when Mr. Selby's specimen was 

 obtained, in full summer-plumage (I have had the pleasure of examining the bird, which is 



3d 



