WHITE GROTJS, OR PTARMIGAN. 
671 
Subgenus. — Lagopus. 
Tarsus and toes feathered. Tail of 18 feathers. They moult twice 
in the year, becoming white in winter, when they are gregarious. 
They are probably monogamous. 
WHITE GROUS, or PTARMIGAN. 
( Tetrao lagopus , Lin. Lath. Ind. ii. p. 639. sp. 9. Ptarmigan and 
Rock Grous, idem. Synops. iv. p. 741, et Suppl. i. p. 217. 
Pennant, Arct. Zool. i. p. 364. No. 184.) 
Sp. Charact. — Bill weak, compressed towards the point; nails 
subulate, black, and curved ; the male constantly with a black 
band through the eyes. — Female without the dark acicular hand, 
cicatrice over the eye smaller. — Summer plumage, above greyish- 
rufous marked with numerous zig-zag black lines, on the breast 
and flanks a great number of black feathers, waved with pale ru- 
fous ; wings, all below the breast, and feet pure white. The fe- 
male and young less white. 
The Ptarmigan is one among the very few animated 
beings, which, by choice and instinct, constantly resides 
in the coldest arctic deserts, and in the lofty mountains 
of central Europe, where, as the snow begins to melt 
away, it seeks out its frozen bed by ascending to the 
limits of eternal ice. Like so many other animals of 
this inclement boreal region, it is common to both the 
old and new continent. It is met with in Siberia, Kam- 
tskatka, Greenland, most parts of northern Europe, the 
Highlands of Scotland, and even as far south as the roman- 
tic scenes of the lakes of Cumberland, a few being still 
seen* in the lofty hills which surround the vale of Kes- 
wick, as well as in Wales. In arctic America, they have 
been met with as far as it has ever been penetrated. They 
are also seen in great numbers in the northern parts of 
* Latham in 1783. 
