found on the mountains which attain an elevation of about
8,000 feet in the vicinity of the Imandra Lake on the Kola
Peninsula. Hoffman* found it breeding on the high ground
near the source of the Petchora in lat. 62° N., and obtained
five specimens between lat. 61° and 66° NA Ilf" Arctic
Siberia, Middendorf found a species of Ptarmigan occupying
the generally flat northern portion of Siberia from 66° N.
in winter, up to 71°N. in Summer; as far east as the Taimyr
Peninsula, and, whilst calling it L. mutus, he expressed surprise
at finding it so similar to L. rupestris. It was subsequently
suggested by Professor Newton that the examples
of Ptarmigan obtained by Mr. H. Seëböhm "iiï*71 N. lat.
on the Yenesei, might actually belong »to the- latter:
a view which comparison appears to haveT co’n'fitmed.
Lagopus rupestris, the Eock-Ptarmigan of author^-f ;is
a form which in plumages except the white garb of
winter, is browner than L . mutus, and which also inhabits
lower and more level ground. | Its range was already
known to reach right across the northern portions of
America from the shores of Behïing’s Straits to Newfoundland,
Greenland, and also to Iceland; but its presence in
Arctic. Siberia from Behring’s Straits oh-the-east to 'th e
Yenesei in the west, and probably further, coupled with the
fact that it does not enter Europe, points to a barrier caused
by important physical changes on the eastern side of the Ural.
It now appears probable that the Ptarmigan recorded by
Messrs. Blakiston and Pïyer', as found in Northern Japan (Ibis,
1878, p. 226), and more recently in the Kurile Islands, may
also be-L. rupestris. On the other hand, thé birds found
by Kadde on the Sochondo, at from W,500- tb- 8,000&fëët
altitude, and those observed by*Dybowski-e®- the Sayansk
~ ~ ‘ Der Hoidlicfae Ural, Wirl^ltjiie;e,’ p. 6.8. f
+ H. Seebohm, ribis,’ 187?,. p.^’14^8,
+ Selby (Rep. Brit. Ass...'T$p^ 611) rec,orde.d L. rupestris .as haring'Been
killed on the Benmorc ridge in Sutherlandshtre ; supposing, no’ dotfbt, that the
orange-yellow dress, which is now well known , to he assumed MiSueimegby ^ e
female of L. mutus, was peculiar to the former species; and not being.aware that
Ptarmigan ^ pm the higher' groppd are smaller than those from lower elevations.
(@f- ft A.-Harvie-Brown, f r : N'at,;Hist B'oc. Glasgow, r875,r p.>'ri°7'0*''">
mountains to the south-west of Lake Baikal were probably
our L. mutus, which Dr. 0. .Einsch also obtained in the
Altai range at an elevation of 6,000 feet.
In Central Europe the Ptarmigan is found throughout
the higher regions of Switzerland, and on the French and
Italian slopes of the Alps; also in smaller numbers in
Tyrol, Styria, and even as far as the edge of the Black
Forest. It is tolerably abundant on the upper portions
of the Pyrenees; and Lord Lilford has been informed
on good authority ;tbat it occurs in the mountains of the
Asturias and of Leon.,
Ptarmigan pair early in spring, breeding in Scotland in the
month of May; the nest,which is difficult to find, being a mere
cup scraped in . the turf, and sparingly lined with grasses
and feathers. The eggs, of a yellowish-white blotched and
spotted with dark brown, are, as a rule, of a somewhat
lighter ground-colour than those of- the Red Grouse, and
of smaller .size, measuring about 1*7 by 1*1 in., and are
from eight to ten in number.. £
The young run about immediately on leaving- the shell,
and are expert at concealing themselves even on the, barest
places ; whilst the hen bird resorts to the usual devices to
divert attention*. In wejb or stormy- seasons thé various
families associate^ pack by the beginning of August, but
otherwise not. till winter* when as many as fifty havo-been
seen together.
Ptarmigan are scarcer on. the extreme summits of the
mountains than at a lower elevation, and those which are
shot on .-the “ barrens,” or 4e$el deserts--of stones in' the
higher situations, are found to be considerably smaller-sized,
birds. Macgillivray observes, th a tm these beautiful birds,
while feeding, run and walk among ..the weather-beaten and
lichen-crested fragments of rock, 'from which it is very
difficult to distinguish them when they remain motionless,
as they invariably do should a person bo in sight. Indeed,
unless you are directed to a particular spot by their Strarïge
low croaking cry, you. may pass through, a^ flock 3 pf Ptarmigans
without .observing a single- individual, although