I'AKTKIDCKS, ^r.MLS. ETC. 



KI:V TO sri . ii s OF LA(;ori -. 

 1. General color of upper parts gray, iu fall plumage. 



leucurus. p. iir.t. 

 1'. General color of upper parts buffy, in fall phnna-f. 



altipetens. p. 1 _".'. 



304. Lagopus leucurus Swain*. \- /,'/>//. WHITK-TAM. i:i> PTAK- 

 MIQAN. 



Adults in /rinter. - Pure white. Aiinlfs in smiiiinr: plumage spotted. 

 barred, or mottled with black and rich buffy brown t'xc.-pt for \vliit. 

 wing's, tail, legs, and belly; the white tail hidden from above l>\ Uno- 



mottled coverts. Adults in fall : similar to summer, but dark parts mm.- 

 uniformly gray, with finer markings and only a trace of bull'v . Y<mny : 

 tail gray. Winy : 0.:J7-0.7o, tail :].si-4.07. bill .:5T, tarsus l.i:J-l.'JL>. 



Distribution. Above timber line in Alaska, mountains of British 

 Columbia, and higher peaks of Cascades, south to Hood and Jefferson. 



Xest. On ground in open situations, a depression in the grass, or an 

 actual nest of interlaced grass stems, weed tops, and feathers. Eyy* : Id i.. 

 1(5, more or less heavily spotted or marbled with dark brown or black on a 

 buffy or light rusty ground. 



Food. Grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, and other insects, as well as 

 young foliage, buds, flowers, and catkins. 



Well above timber line along tin- crests of the higher mountain 

 ranges these hardy furry-footed little grouse live among the rocks 

 and heather beds, where, although the food supply is small, they 

 find an abundance, there being little or no competition from birds of 

 like habits. 



In summer they keep close to the retreating sn<>\\ banks and oi't.-n 

 make their nests beside permanent glaciers. Their landscape is al- 

 ways patched with snow as their plumage is with white. But though 

 they are colored for safety among the glaciers, the dark parts of their 

 plumage make them blend in with the rocks so perfectly that they 

 are almost invisible when not moving a fact they seem to appre- 

 ciate, for they sit still until you almost step on them. 



YKKNON BAII.KY. 



304a. L. 1. altipetens Osgood. SOUTHERN WHITE-TAILED PTAR- 



MIGAN. 



Slightly larger than Ifucurus and similar 



to it in winter and summer plumages, luit r ^9fjj^&^'^fv 

 in fall plumage more brownish, the upper 

 parts pale cinnamon rufous. Wing 7.10- 

 7.44, tail 4. 30 4.72. bill about .37, tarsus 

 1.13^1.28. 



Distribution. Colorado. 



In Colorado the local name for the ptarmigan is white quail. ' 



GENUS TYMPANUCHUS. 



General Characters. Sides of neck with a conspicuous tuft of stiff. 

 pointed feathers and an inflatable air sac ; head with a slight soft crest ; 



