. An illustrated manual of British birds . often sits on earth-dykes and walls. In severe snowyweather Grouse are driven from the higher moors to the lowlands,and have been known to wander so far that they seem to havecompletely lost the bearings of their old haunts. The causes of thedisease to which they are subject have been-—and still are—muchdisputed ; but there was a severe outbreak as long ago as June 1815in the Reay country, Sutherlandshire (Zoo). 1887, p. 302). The plumage varies considerably, especially as regards the underparts, on which a good deal of white is sometimes observed inw
. An illustrated manual of British birds . often sits on earth-dykes and walls. In severe snowyweather Grouse are driven from the higher moors to the lowlands,and have been known to wander so far that they seem to havecompletely lost the bearings of their old haunts. The causes of thedisease to which they are subject have been-—and still are—muchdisputed ; but there was a severe outbreak as long ago as June 1815in the Reay country, Sutherlandshire (Zoo). 1887, p. 302). The plumage varies considerably, especially as regards the underparts, on which a good deal of white is sometimes observed inwinter. The male is reddish-brown on the head and neck, andchestnut-brown—barred and speckled with black—on the upperparts; the feathers of the breast being almost black, with white summer the general colour is lighter. Length 16 in. ; wing8*4 in. The female (represented in the foreground) is rathersmaller, and exhibits much more of a yellowish-chestnut tint. Theyoung moult completely in their first autumn. 4^3. THE PTARMIGAN. LagoiUS mutus (Montin). As regards Greal Britain, the Ptarmigan is confined to Scotland ;there being no positive evidence of its occurrence in the mountainsof Cumberland or Westmorland. Recent investigations by Mr. (Zool. 1887, pp. 81-89) have, however, shown that a fewexisted in the highest jjortions of Dumfriesshire and (Jallowayuntil about 1822, when the last were captured near Sanquhar;though a subsequent attempt by the late Duke of Buccleuch tore-stock that district proved unsuccessful. Owing to re-introduc-tion it is still found in Arran, and a few pairs survive on the Papsof Jura as well as in Islay, while in gradually decreasing numbersit is found in Skye, Harris, and Lewis. From the vicinity of BenLomond northward, it inhabits the region of stones on the highermountain-masses, especially in Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Inverness- i> p 2 484 PTARMIGAN. shire, Ross, and Sutherland, but it is exceedingly local.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidillustra, booksubjectbirds
