WILLOW PTARMIGAN.

Lagopus Saliceti, Swans.

Le Tétras des Saules,

Tue characteristic features which distinguish the Willow Ptarmigan from the Lagopus mutus consist in its

superior size, in the rufous colouring of its summer plumage, and the total absence at all times of the black
mark between the bill and the eye. Although not an inhabitant of the British Islands, the Willow Ptar
is perhaps more widely dispersed than any other species, being abundant over the whole of the arctic circle.
It is the most plentiful kind of Grouse found in Norway, Sweden, and Lapland; and extends its range over
the whole of Russia and Siberia. These elevated and dreary regions affor

its habits and mode of life, in consequence of which its numbers
temperate climes; hence in the midland countries of Eur
these latitudes it is never found.

migan

d it situations most congenial to
are much diminished as it approaches more
ope it is much less frequently seen, and south of

In its habits, manners, and general economy it strictly resembles
mer on the tender shoots and buds of heath, t
of the country is covered with snow, it bur

the common species, feeding during sum-

ogether with berries of alpine plants: in winter, when the face

rows beneath the surface, and feeds on the scanty herbage, the buds
of the dwarf willow, and whatever green vegetable food it can obtain.

Its nest is placed on the ground among tufts of herbage and brushwood : the eggs are from six to ten in
number, larger than those of the Common Ptarmigan, but much resembling them in colour,

There is perhaps a greater contrast between the summer
of the Ptarmigans. The purity of the white in w
which in some individuals we have seen js of
bars of black.

and winter plumage of this bird than in any other
inter being contrasted by the rich colourin

g of summer,
a pure uniform chestnut, with scarce

ly any trace of the zigzag

Our Plate exhibits two birds, one in the pure white liver
namely, that of spring, the white having to a gr
feathers of summer.

y of winter, the other in an intermediate stage,
eat extent given place, by a partial moult, to the coloured

The sexes offer little difference at either season of the year.
which at the autumn moult is exchanged for white.
In summer the head, neck, back, se

The first plumage of the young is coloured,

apularies, middle tail-feathers and coverts
or less deep, and more or less blotched, with zigzag lines of black ; breast, vent, centre of the wings, and
quill-feathers pure white ; lateral tail-feathers black; beak and nails horn colour ; irides greyish white.

In winter the whole of the plumage is pure white.

The Plate represents two adult bird

are of a pure chestnut more

s, in different stages of plumage, of the natural size.