SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. H3 



and most of the lower wing-coverts, white. The hair-like feathers of the 

 tarsi are light brownish-grey, faintly barred with greyish-white. 



Length to end of tail 17^ inches, to end of wings 14, to end of claws 17, 

 extent of wings 23; wing from flexure 8%, tail 4-£; bill along the ridge y| ; 

 along the edge of lower mandible lyf ; tarsus l-f|; hind toe T 6 2, its claw -j^'i 

 middle toe lyf j its claw T V 



Adult Female. 



The female is considerably smaller, but is coloured like the male, the 

 tints being duller. 



Genus II.— LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN. 



Bill short, robust; upper mandible with its dorsal outline decurved, the 

 ridge indistinct and rounded, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the 

 tip declinate, thin-edged, rounded; lower mandible with the angle of mode- 

 rate length and rounded, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the 

 edges a little inclinate, the tip rounded; nasal sinuses large and covered with 

 feathers, leaving the ridge narrow between them. Nostrils basal, roundish, 

 concealed by the feathers. Head small, ovate; neck rather long; body bulky. 

 Feet rather short, stout; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, which have two 

 or three terminal scutella; hind toe extremely short, lateral toes equal. 

 Claws slightly arched, depressed, thin-edged, rounded. Plumage full and 

 compact, the feathers rounded. Wings short, convex, the primaries strong, 

 narrow, tapering, the third longest, the fourth and second little shorter. Tail 

 short, nearly even, of more than twelve broad feathers. 



