54 PTARMIGAN. 



birds of prey and other vermin, there is no doubt that it very frequently affords a meal 

 to the lordly Eagle, as well as the Peregrine Falcon, and other less noble birds of prey. 

 Its ranks are also thinned by the cunning fox, and some of the Mustelines, particularly 

 during the breeding season, when the young are unable to save themselves by flight, 

 and consequently fall an easy prey to their ruthless and sure-scented enemies. 



As a bird for the table, it is much inferior to the Red Grouse, being drier and with 

 less flavour; still it is by no means to be despised, and when Moor Game cannot be 

 had, may fairly be called upon to act as its substitute. 



The habits of the Ptarmigan lead it to prefer the barren and stony parts of the 

 most elevated ground, instead of the heathy moors within its reach, and which are so 

 essential to the existence of the Eed Grouse; among these it lives, and as such districts 

 seldom offer much inducement for man to " invade them, they are often left almost 

 unmolested. Still in some localities the shepherds, who nearly all have guns, nominally 

 to shoot foxes, etc., commit considerable havoc among them. Some amount of pro- 

 tection should therefore be afforded to these pretty birds, or even in their Highland 

 homes they may, as in the mountains of Wales, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, grad- 

 ually become more rare, till at length they are extinct; to the regret of all naturalists, 

 if not of sportsmen. 



During the winter the Ptarmigans obtain their food by burrowing under the snow ; they 

 are thus concealed from observation, and also protected from the inclemency of the weather, 

 which, however severe, but seldom induces them to seek the lower grounds: they are 

 indeed birds of snow. Ptarmigans are by no means so shy and wary as the Red Grouse, 

 but often exhibit such a degree of tameness, almost amounting to stupidity, as to allow 

 themselves to be killed by a stick ; when, however, they are much pursued, this tameness 

 disappears, and they become more difficult of approach, though not to the extent exhibited 

 by their congener. When alarmed by any unusual appearance, such as a man, dog, etc., 

 they lie remarkably still, and so similar in colour are they to the ground on which they 

 crouch, that it is an easy thing to overlook them entirely, even though they should be 

 only a very few yards distant, unless your attention is particularly called to them by 

 the peculiar cry of the species, which is in such cases uttered by a sentinel on a stone 

 or rock. If you frighten him, he is off immediately, calling to the others, who join 

 him one by one from their crouching concealment. 



Their flight, which is rapid, is often of considerable length, frequently not terminating 

 till they reach the opposite hill side. In autumn and winter the Ptarmigans collect in 

 large packs, and, Macgillivray says, even so early as the end of July. 



As a sporting bird, there seems to be a very general feeling among sportsmen, that 

 it is infinitely inferior to the Red Grouse. Before having any chance of obtaining 

 birds, you must ascend probably to the very top of the highest mountains, and even 



