PTARMIGAN. 85 



or inducement these birds prefer the most sterile situations, 

 is not easily explained, but they are most numerous on the 

 barren snow-clad rocks high up in the mountains, where they 

 are continually exposed to gusts so frequent and terrible, that 

 they are obliged to seek refuge and shelter between the 

 clefts and fissures of the locality. During the night the 

 Ptarmigan resorts to the shelter afforded by a stone or heath 

 plant, or by the snow itself, in which it buries itself up to the 

 neck. In this latter situation these birds are not unfre- 

 quently snowed in, and have great difficulty in keeping a 

 small loop-hole. The huntsmen of the Alps profess to know, 

 that, when these birds are snowed in and become actually 

 covered over by the snow, that they remain thus at times for 

 a whole week, when hunger prompts them to the exertion 

 of extricating themselves ; and not unfrequently several birds 

 are found dead in such situations. 



The Ptarmigan is a very pleasing bird in its winter 

 garb, owing to its clean smooth feathering and well-propor- 

 tioned shape ; but in summer plumage it is so much pied and 

 spotted, that it is very difficult to say what colour predomi- 

 nates in its feathering. 



The general appearance of the Ptarmigan, when uncon- 

 scious of being observed, is very unobtrusive, walking about 

 with a round back and drooping tail ; but if the bird is 

 startled, it struts about with an air of dignity. The bird in 

 question can run very fast, and its flight resembles that of 

 the partridge. The formation of its short wings greatly con- 

 tributes to produce quick flight, which is accompanied by 

 a vibratory noise : it never flies high, nor, except during 

 migration, to any great distance, and when it alights, it 

 invariably runs on a little way upon the ground or snow, 

 where the loose feathering of the feet prevents it from leaving 

 distinct footmarks. Its spoon-shaped nails are well adapted 

 for scratching the ground or digging in the snow. 



