TETRAO LAGOPUS. 
PTA RMIGAN, 
Generic Character. See Tetrao Urogallus, 
Synonyms. 
Tetrao Lagopus. Lin. Syjl. i, p. 274. 4. Ind. Onu 
2, p. 639. 9. 
Ptarmigan. Br. ZooL 1. 95. tal^. 43. Ib,fo!. 86. iab, 
M, Jig. 4, 5. Art^. Zool. 2 p. 315* 
D Lath, Syn, 4./). 741. 10. Mont^ 
Orn. T)i5l, Vol, 2. Bewick's Br, Birds^ 
Ft, 1. />. 301. 
TThE length of this fpecies is about fifteen, the breadth 
twenty-two inches, and it ufually weighs from eighteen to 
twenty ounces. Bill flrong ; irides light hazel ; legs ftrong, 
and thickly befet with hair-like feathers to the extremity of 
the toes ; claws long, having the appearance of pieces of quilj. 
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, w^hich 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 diftinguifiiable 
except in the fpring, when the Ikin above the eyes in the mal« 
is much dilated, and of a brighter hue than in the other fex. 
White Grous is rarely to be met whh but on the high 
mountainous parts of this country, on the highlands of Scot- 
land, 
