144 
GROUSE-PTARMIGAN, 
We now come to that section of Uie Grouae to 
vvliicli the lied GrcfUne mid Piarmigasi belong. They 
have been sepurated from the others under the title 
of Lagopus — Grouiw-Ptarmigan, They are even of 
a more aolltary nature than tlie otIierSj, iiihabiling tlie 
wildest muirs or most barren alpine rang'es. Th« 
principal generic difltinction is the entirely clolhed 
feet and legs, covered with a rather rigid hair than 
feathers, and the want of the scaling upon ll*e sides 
of the toes ; the hind toe short, and the claws long 
and of a particular flat triangularly pointed form in 
the more alpine birds, to assist in digging or bur- 
rowing" under the sno^v. Five species ojdy are known, 
natives of North America and Europe. Great Britain 
po«a6a«es three, one of which is not known out of 
the British Iale«. It is the first we shall notice — 
