280 
TETRAONIDiE. 
RA SORES. 
TETRA ONIDjE 
PTARMIGAN. 
Tetrao lagopus. 
PLATE LXX. FIG. III. 
Although the Ptarmigan breeds in various parts of 
Scotland, the eggs are very difficult to obtain. Its 
breeding-places are those bare, stony spots which cover 
a portion of most of the higher mountain ridges, amongst 
which it finds secure retreat; its similarity to the ground 
in colour is so great, and its heedlessness of danger is 
such, for it will remain closely crouched till you approach 
within the shortest distance of it, that it thus eludes dis¬ 
covery. 
The eggs, which are from eight to twelve in number, 
are deposited either upon the bare ground or upon a small 
portion of dry grass or heath; those that I have seen are 
precisely like some of the varieties of eggs of the red 
grouse. 
The Ptarmigan, as well as several other species of 
grouse, are said to be very abundant in Norway during 
the breeding season; they were all, however, very scarce 
during the summer of our visit to that country: the only 
variegated grouse we met with was the T\ Saliceti , the 
willow grouse; and, of this, two specimens only were all 
that rewarded our many wild rambles on those glorious 
snow-clad mountains, and these were so tame that we 
had difficulty in compelling them to fly. 
