Ptār'mi-gan, n.

(tār'mi-gan), n. [Gael. tarmachan, Ir. tarmochan, tar-monach.] (Ornith.) A bird of the grouse family, having the feet feathered to the toes; Tetrao (lagopus) mutus. The plumage is ash-colored in summer, and almost entirely-white in winter. Ptarmigans haunt the lofty heights of mountainous countries in Europe, Asia, and America, descending within the range of vegetation to feed on berries, buds of trees, insects, &c.