62 GROUSE-PARTRIDGES. 



similar shrubby barrens in Connecticut, and in the Island of 

 Martha's Vineyard, on the south side of Massachusetts Bay.] 



29. The Ptarmigans^ or White Grouse^ — Lagopvs, — have a 

 round or square tail, and often become white in winter. [The 

 Ptarmigan, — Tttrao lagopvs, — constantly resides in the coldest 

 arctic deserts, and in the lofty mountains of Central Europe, 

 where, as the snow begins to melt away, it seeks out its frozen 

 bed, by ascending to the limits of eternal ice. It is common to 

 the extreme northern regions of both the old and new continent. 

 It feeds on many kinds of berries, heath, young shoots of pine, 

 and occasionally eats a few insects. To protect themselves 

 against the entreme cold of the climate, Ptarmigans dwell in the 

 snow. As soon as they leave their frozen retreats in the morn- 

 ing, they fly vigorously upward into the air, shaking the snow 

 from their warm and white clothing. They are much esteemed 

 as food in every country where they occur, and are commonly 

 taken in nets. Between the months of April and May, it is said, 

 that as many as ten thousand are taken for the use of the Hud- 

 son's Bay settlement ; and in Europe, during the winter, they 

 are carried in thousands to the markets of Norway.] 



SO. Partridges live in pairs, and keep on the ground. Two 

 species of Partridge are conmion in France : the gray and the 

 red. The Gray Partridge,— Tetrao cinereus, — keeps in the 

 fields ; it is ashy brown elegantly mingled with black ; the tail is 

 short and the legs are of a greenish wiiite ; the beak and {e^i 

 are ash-colour. In young Partridges there is observed, between 

 eye and ear, a naked skin which is of a brilliant scarlet. The 

 male has on the breast a chestnut coloured spot in the form 

 of a horse shoe. Tlie female is distinguished by less brilliant 

 and less marked colours. She lays from twelve to eighteen eggs, 

 and makes a nest on the ground of dry leaves and moss. The 

 young ones run the moment they escape from the shell, a part 

 of which they frequently drag after them. It not unfrequently 

 happens that they place the eggs of a Partridge under a hen, Who 

 sits upon, and takes care of them as if they were her own. 



31. The Red Partridge, — Tetrao ritfus. — has the beak and 

 feet red ; it prefers to keep on hills and elevated places ; its flesh 

 is whiter than that of the gray Partridge. 



32. [^imerican Partridges, — Oriyx, — have the beak short, 

 thick, higher than it is wide ; the upper mandible curved from the 



29. What are the habits of the Ptarmigan ? Where is it found ? 



30. What are the characters of the Gray Partridge of Europe ? 



31. How is the Red Partridge distinguished ? 



32. What are the characters of American Partridges ? 



