RED PTARMIGAN, 



295 



in Wales, and are very common in the highlands 

 of Scotland, and the mountains and bogs of 

 Ireland: in winter they associate in flocks of 

 forty or fifty in number, and become remarkably 

 wild and shy: they never resort to woods, but 

 confine themselves wholly to the open moors and 

 the summits of the heathy hills ; feeding on the 

 mountain berries and the tender tops of the heath. 

 They pair in spring, and the females lay from 

 eight to fourteen eggs, much like those of the 

 Black Grous, but smaller, in a rude nest upon the 

 ground. The young brood follow the hen till the 

 approach of winter, when they unite with several 

 others into packs. 



They have often been known to breed in 

 confinement, several instances being on record. 

 Their flesh is excellent food, but very soon cor- 

 rupts. 



The Red Ptarmigans are stated by Temminck 

 to be natives of various parts of the Continent, 

 particularly the north ; and I understand that 

 Captain Carmicael killed them in the island Tristan 

 da Cunha, which is situated between the Cape of 

 Good Hope and St. Helena. 



