It was better to eat small live things like ptarmigan chicks, and to let alone large live things like ptarmigan hens.

Nevertheless he felt a little prick of ambition, a sneaking desire to have another battle with that ptarmigan hen--only the hawk had carried her away.

May be there were other ptarmigan hens.

He would go and see.
He came down a shelving bank to the stream.

He had never seen water before.