TETRAO LAG OPUS. 



PTARMIGAN. 



Generic Character. See Tetrao Urogallus. 

 f Synonyms. 



Tetrao Lagopus. Lin. Syfl. 1. p. 274.4. Ind. Orn. 

 2. p. 639. 9. 



Ptarmigan. Br. Zool. 1. 95. tab. 43. Ib.fol. 86. tab* 

 M. fig. 4» 5- ArEi. Zo °I- 2. p. 315. 

 D. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 741. 10. Moztf. 

 Orn. Dicl. Vol. 2. Bewick's Br. Birds 3 

 Pt. 1. 301. 



TTh E length of this fpecies is about fifteen, the breadth 

 twenty-two inches, and it ufually weighs from eighteen to 

 twenty ounces. Bill ftrong ; irides light hazel ; legs flrong, 

 and thickly befet with hair-like feathers to the extremity of 

 the toes ; claws long, having the appearance of pieces of quill 

 protruding from the toes, being concave on the under fide, 

 and terminating in an obtufe point ; this form of the claws 

 may aflift them in their fearch after food, which very 

 frequently lies beneath the fnow ; tail compofed of fixteen 

 black feathers tipped with white, the tail is moft generally 

 hid under the tail coverts. The fexes are not diftinguifhablc 

 except in the fpring, when the fkin above the eyes in the male 

 is much dilated, and of a brighter hue than in the other fex. 



White Grous is rarely to be met with but on the high 

 mountainous parts of this country, on the highlands of Scot- 

 land, 



