PTAEMIGAN. 



LAGOPUS MUTUS (Montin). 



Tetrao mutus, Montin, Phys. Salsk. Handl. p. 155 (1770). 

 Tetrao lagopus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 274 (1776) ; Naum. vi. 



p. 401 ; Hewitson, i. p. 280. 

 Lagopus cinereus, Macg. i. p. 187. 



Lagopus mutus, Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 83 ; Dresser, vii. p. 157. 



Perdrix blanche, Gelinotte blanche, French; Alpen-Schnee- 

 huhn, German ; Perdiz blanca, Spanish. 



This species is now only to be met with in Great 

 Britain amongst the summits of the highest mountain- 

 ranges in Scotland ; the change from the breeding- 

 plumage depicted on Plate 10 into the grey dress of 

 Plate 11 is effected by a complete moult or change of 

 feathers, whilst the pure white of the winter is acquired 

 by change of colour in the old feathers. 



The Ptarmigan appears to brave the most severe 

 stress of winter weather in its alpine haunts, rarely 

 coming down into the heather below them ; its food 

 consists of mountain-berries of different species, and the 

 shoots of various alpine plants. The alarm-note of the 

 old male is a very remarkable guttural croak. As a 

 rule these birds are not difficult of approach, and 

 merely attempt to escape observation by crouching 

 amongst the lichen-covered fragments of rock which 

 form their favourite resort. 



