88 TETRA0N1D.E. 



or killed, which sufficiently proves that he is not wanted ; 

 and in cold and stormy weather she takes the nestlings 

 under her wings for protection. If any man has caught 

 one of the young brood, the fond mother has been known 

 to go up to him, as if reclaiming her own. When danger 

 approaches suddenly, the young brood disperse in all di- 

 rections, and each remains perfectly still in its chosen place 

 behind a stone or bush, &c, until the mother recalls them 

 all together again. When the young birds have gained 

 their full size and gone through the autumn months, the 

 male parent joins the family ; and by this time, while they 

 are all seeking a milder atmosphere, several families flock 

 together, and remain so until the ensuing spring. 



The male Ptarmigan is about fifteen inches long ; the female 

 somewhat less. The winter plumage of both male and female 

 is pure white, with the exception of a black streak from the base 

 of the beak through the eye, the fourteen black tail-feathers, 

 which set off to greater advantage the four white middle 

 feathers, and the black shafts of the quill-feathers of the 

 wing. Over the eye the bird has a naked fringed bright red 

 skin, in the same fashion as the red grous. The beak is 

 black ; the iris dusky. 



In summer the Ptarmigan is very differently coloured, 

 and the following is the description of the male bird at that 

 season : — The upper parts are pale cinereous brown, mi- 

 nutely spotted and barred with dusky ; but the markings on 

 the head and neck are broader and mixed with white ; the 

 under parts and quills are white as in winter ; the central tail- 

 feathers are ash-coloured. 



In our plate the white specimen represents the adult male 

 in perfect winter plumage, and the dark figure the same in its 

 summer dress. 



The egg figured 152 is that of the Ptarmigan. 



