192 transactions—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
climb, we reached our goal, a broad table-land at a height of 3000 
feet, we were enveloped in a fog so thick that we could scarcely see 
ten yards around us. The walking was easy, over a comparatively 
level floor of flat stones embedded in a carpet of soft elastic moss; 
this was ground which we knew to be well suited to the tastes of the 
birds we sought. Hopeless as under the circumstances our task 
appeared to be, we trudged along backwards and fonvards in 
regular beats, and had nearly completed our survey of the plateau 
when the dog suddenly flushed a Dotterel, which, with a cry of alarm’ 
fluttered away with draggling wings and disappeared in the mist; she 
was at once joined by her mate, whose voice we heard in answer to 
her own. We could find no nest, so we took up a position at a Itttle 
distance away and watched, hoping that the bird would return. 
After waiting for half-an-hour, during which time rain besan to fall 
heavily, the keeper started off in the direction taken by the bird, 
thinking that by her behaviour she had young, and had called her 
chicks after her, while I remained watching. In a few minutes’ time 
the dog reappeared, looming large in the mist, hunting evidently on 
the back tracks of the Dotterel, and presently stood still in an attitude 
of pointing; on going to the spot I found the three eggs lying under 
his nose. The nest was a slight dint in the ground, and the eggs, of 
a rich brown colour, marked with black blotches, were in perfect 
harmony with the moss on which they were placed. 
The Ptarmigan, as a British bird, is entirely confined to Scotland 
where it remains on the mountains all the year round, changing its 
dress as the ground varies in colour and aspect according^o the 
successive seasons. In the springtime, the pure white plumage, which 
matched the dazzling winter snow, becomes mottled with grey, yellow, 
and brown to suit the rocks and summer clothing of the hills, and 
when the autumn blasts begin to whiten the mountain sides, the 
Ptarmigan gradually re-assumes its winter garb. The mountain 
hare, the companion and close associate of the Ptarmigan, varies its 
coat in the same manner, the change being effected by a supple¬ 
mentary process, independently of moulting or shedding of fur, and 
thus Nature helps to protect these creatures from their common 
enemies, the eagle and the fox. 
After a succession of hot tramps in August on the moors, it is 
a pleasant variety for the sportsman to have a by-day and climb up to 
the stony tops with a gun and a trusty retriever and search for 
Ptarmigan. Even if birds be few and sport indifferent, the fresh 
exhilarating air and the magnificent views obtained in fine weather 
always repay the toil and fatigue incurred. Sometimes, when well 
up above the heather zone, a wary old cock grouse, one of the bullies 
of the moor, may be surprised and brought to bag with much 
