Variations: Lagepus, Lagephus
According to Pliny, the Lagopus (“hare foot”) or ptarmigan is so named because its feet are covered with hair like those of a hare’s foot. It is the size of a pigeon and white all over. While delicious to eat, the lagopus cannot be tamed or kept outside of its native land, and it putrefies rapidly when killed.
Thomas de Cantimpré misreads the allusion to the native ground of the lagopus, and instead deduces that the lagopus does not eat in the open air. Having made that conclusion, it is only logical that it must carry its food into a cave to eat it. Albertus Magnus makes the further logical deduction that the lagopus cannot fly well.
Although only the feet are described as hare-like, depictions show it with a hare’s head as well. It is often shown standing in front of a cave.
References
Aiken, P. (1947) The Animal History of Albertus Magnus and Thomas of Cantimpré. Speculum, 22(2), pp. 205-225.
de Cantimpré, T. (1280) Liber de natura rerum. Bibliothèque municipale de Valenciennes.
Cuba, J. (1539) Le iardin de santé. Philippe le Noir, Paris.
Magnus, A. (1545) Thierbuch. Jacob, Frankfurt.
Magnus, A. (1920) De Animalibus Libri XXVI. Aschendorffschen Verlagbuchhandlung, Münster.
Pliny; Holland, P. trans. (1847) Pliny’s Natural History. George Barclay, Castle Street, Leicester Square.
Unknown. (1538) Ortus Sanitatis. Joannes de Cereto de Tridino.
A Book of Creatures 
Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s algopus.
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What’s with the cave?
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It’s where you eat underground
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To the Bun Cave!
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Fun fact: In French we also call them a “Lagopède”, and it’s actually a species of bird.
In English, it’s called a “Willow Grouse”. 🙂
Here is a picture!
There is also a place called “the Lagopus’ shelter” somewhere in France, which is a small cave in the Arcy-sur-Cure’s Caves.
Sadly the wikipedia page is in French, but the bigger cave one is in Englsih:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caves_of_Arcy-sur-Cure
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abri_du_Lagop%C3%A8de
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Merci beaucoup! Oui, je connaissais le lagopède, mais je le connais mieux en anglais comme “willow ptarmigan”. Dommage que “ptarmigan” n’a aucune étymologie commune avec “lagopus”…
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Une grotte avec des lagopèdes, quand même, trop beau 🥺
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I would just like to say that this is an astonishing website and your research and work is an extraordinary resource. Thank you!
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Thank you so much!
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aww it’s so soft
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aww, it’s so soft
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The comment so nice I approved it twice :-}
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