G 
PTAllMIGAN. 
mile from the summit. Ilere we were forced to wait some time for daylight before crossing into the next corrie 
wdiere the birds would probably be found if the spot was sufficiently sheltered. When day fairly broke 
all the tops were enveloped in mist, and on crossing into the gully it was obviously useless to search that part 
for birds, as the wind blew with irresistible force and the snow drifted in every direction. We were 
first saluted with a regular whirlwind of frozen snow and small particles of ice, which completely blinded us 
for some time, and while in that unpleasant predicament, were nearly swept off our legs by a furious o-ust that 
came roaring round the hill, carrying a flock of unfortunate Snow-Buntings nearly into our faces. We next 
turned further east to try if it was possible to And some shelter in that direction. While crossing- the 
intervening space (a mass of snow, with liere and there a patch of broken and exposed rocks) a brace or two 
of birds were started ; these being all excessively backward were allowed to escape. Immediately on gainin» 
a sheltered corrie, three birds, as white as the snow they rose from, got up close by ; but struggling in a drift 
of newly fallen snow, I was unable to fire. We watched them for some time till they were lost in the 
mist, wdiich had nearly descended to the line we were following. In a few moments tliey again came in view 
through a break in the clouds, and were marked down in a patch of broken moss. I had not gone fifty 
yards in their direction, before tw'o more birds were detected feeding among some stones where the ground 
was almost bare. Not the slightest notice was taken of our approach till we Avere within half a dozen yards 
of them; and being able to examine their plumage closely, I satisfied myself that, as specimens, they 
were of no use. On arriving at the spot where the three birds had pitched, they were nowhere to be seen ; 
but hearing loud cloaking close at hand, I kejit following the sound, when a dozen birds at least sprung 
within ten yards at the very moment the coating of snow and ice covering a small gully gave way and let me 
down to the bottom, a distance of ten or tivelve feet, fortunately the snow was soft and dry, and on 
being extricated by the gillies, I followed in the line taken by the paek, coming suddenly on six or seven birds 
feeding, without the slightest suspicion of danger, among some fine gravel and plants from ivliich they had 
sciaped the snoiv. A male and female, both perfectly ivhite, were among them; but all drawing together as 
they rose (though two fell to the first barrel, and one to the second), the female only was secured, the two 
others killed being exceedingly backward. 
“ Blinding squalls now followed one another in rapid succession, and the snow commencing to drift in a 
most dangerous manner, we decided that it was the safest plan to leave the high ground as speedily as 
possible. I hough having worked hard, with merely a nip of mountain-dew by way of refreshment, for several 
hours, no halt was made till the shoaling was reached. Here, after lunching, Ave remained for some time in 
hopes of the AA'eather improving ; the longer, how'over, Ave Avaited the Avorso grew the storm. At last, as the 
daylight began to fade, we started homoAvards ; and only just in time, as on reaching the low ground aa'b found 
the noAvly fallen snoAV a foot deep and drifting fast.” 
Though repeatedly passing severe winters in the north, I never met Avith Ptarmigan at a low elevation on 
the moors or mountain-slopes. The tops and higher ranges are at times almost entirely deserted Avlien the 
snoAV is frozen to the consistency of ice. The packs under such circumstances frequent hill-sides, where at 
other seasons they are seldom or never obser\'ed. White Grouse eAudently cling with true Highland 
pertinacity to their native mountain homes. But one solitary instance of these birds appearing on the low 
grounds has come to my knoAvledge. A keeper in the Avest of Perthshire informed me that his father, a small 
farmer in the upper part of Glenlyon, many years ago, during an exceedingly cold and protracted Avinter, 
discovered a pack of seven or eight birds in his barn-yard : the old man, I learned, always spoke of it as a 
remarkable occurrence and a proof of the extraordinary severity of the w^eather. 
The nest of the Ptarmigan is invariably found near the summits of the highest hills. Here, among the 
mists and clouds, and not unfrequent snoAV-squalls, Avithout a neighbour save the Dotterel, Snow-Bunting, or 
blue hare, this hardy bird passes the summer, till driven by the storms to seek shelter from the Avintry blasts 
