96 
PTARMIGAN. 
perceiving a person approach, generally leaves it, 
and is only discovered by her motion over the rocks, 
or her low clucking cry. In winter they descend 
lower, hut seldom seek the plains. In Ireland, Mr. 
Thomson states, “ it is not now, nor do I consider 
it ever was, indigenous.” 
Both sexes in winter are pure' white, except the 
space between the hill and the eyes, the outer tail- 
feathers, and the shafts of the quills, which are deep 
black in the young birds. In seasons intermediate 
from the breeding season the darker feathers or 
clouded markings are generally grey, or brownish- 
grey, mottled w r ith black. In the female, we be- 
lieve the breeding state to be rich ochreous-yellow, 
barred and cut into with large masses of black, the 
pure white of the lower parts and shoulders remain- 
ing. "VVe are uncertain, however, whether this 
change takes place in the male at the commence- 
ment of the season of incubation, or if, during the 
heat of the love season, he retains his pure plumage, 
commencing his change and moult to grey when 
the female begins to sit. The length of the male 
specimen before us, in this intermediate state, is 
sixteen inches. 
Tfe have, in this place, to notice another bird, 
which has lately gained a place in the British list 
as a distinct species, and w r e give a figure of the 
jL. rupestris , both as illustrating the form of Lago- 
pus, and as showing the appearance of the bird to 
which we have now to refer. 
