SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. 113 
and most of the lower wing-coverts, white. The hair-like feathers of the 
tarsi are light brownish-grey, faintly barred with greyish-white. 
Length to end of tail 174 inches, to end of wings 14, to end of claws 17, 
extent of wings 23 ; wing from flexure 81, tail 4-J ; bill along the ridge ; 
along the edge of lower mandible 1}'4 ; tarsus 1 ; hind toe jV, its claw 
r 6 2 ; middle toe l|f, its claw T V 
Adult Female. 
The female is considerably smaller, but is coloured like the male, the 
tints being duller. 
Genus II.— LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN. 
Bill short, robust ; upper mandible with its dorsal outline decurved, the 
ridge indistinct and rounded, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the 
tip decimate, thin-edged, rounded ; lower mandible with the angle of mode- 
rate length and rounded, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the 
edges a little inclinate ; the tip rounded ; nasal sinuses large and covered 
with feathers, leaving the ridge narrow between them. Nostrils basal, 
roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head small, ovate ; neck rather long ; 
body bulky. Feet rather short, stout ; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, 
which have two or three terminal scutella ; hind toe extremely short, lateral 
toes equal. Claws slightly arched, depressed, thin-edged, rounded. Plu- 
mage full and compact, the feathers rounded. Wings short, convex, the 
primaries strong, narrow, tapering, the third longest, the fourth and second 
little shorter. Tail short, nearly even, of more than twelve broad fea- 
thers. 
