TKTliAOXID-E— THE GROUSE. 4Q2 



gardless of consequences in their desire to save their young. The latter 

 are ^^ery hard to recognize, owing to their close resemblance to the grass, in 

 which they sqiuit, and remain jierfectly still. 



In September and October uf each season these Ptarmigans assemlile in 

 large flocks, but during winter seldom more than two or tliree dozen were 

 ever noticed in single companies. They would often aliglit and feed in the 

 immediate presence of the men, and would e\en permit a very near ajiproach. 

 During the winter they were frequently to be met with between Fort An- 

 derson and Fort Good Hope, in especial abundance about the last-mentioned 

 post. As tlie spring approached, they began to migrate to the north; so that 

 in the summer scarcely a Ptarmigan was to be seen south of Lockhart Piiver, 

 on their usual line of march to that post. In February, 1859, Mr. MacFar- 

 lane found them numerous to the very borders of the wooded country, along 

 the banks of the Lower Anderson. 



Mv. Donald Gunn states that this Ptarmigan is very seldom to be seen 

 south or west of Lake Winnipeg, Init is found in all the country nortli and 

 east of that lake during tlie winter season. In the summer they are said to 

 breed around Htulson's Bay, and during the winter to be found along the 

 whole extent of that bay, especially if the winter is mild. During severe 

 winters they go more inland. The males of this species are said by Mr. 

 Gunn to crow morning and evening in the same manner as the Moor-fowl 

 in Scotland, the tone and notes being very similar. Tiie female is said to lay 

 from ten to si.xteen eggs, but the largest number taken by Mr. MacFarlane 

 appears to have been ten. These birds are of great service to the Indians, 

 serving as food when larger game fails ; and their featliers are also a con- 

 siderable article of trade, several hundredweight of them being annually 

 sent to London. 



Mr. Dall found this Ptarmigan abundant in Alaska, from Fort Yukon to 

 the sea. In winter they feed exclusi\ely on willow Ijuds, a double-handful 

 having often been found in their crops. As soon as the ground was well 

 covered with snow they appeared on the river in coveys among the wiUow- 

 thickets. They were rather shy, and on an alarm flew immediately, but 

 without noise. They made regular paths along the banks of tlie river 

 among the willows, along which they always ran. The Indians took advan- 

 tage of these to snare them, and cauglit them by hundreds. They were 

 abundant in tlie fall and midwinter. In February they gathered in im- 

 mense flocks, and disappeared, no one could tell where, returning aliout the 

 middle of ilarch as suddenly as they had gone away, remaining a few 

 " weeks, then resorting to the mountains and open country to breed. In 

 1867 they disappeared February 15 and returned April 1, leaving for the 

 mountains May 3. Tlie following year they left February 10, returned 

 March 21, and left for the mountains April 28, going and coming in large 

 flocks. They begin to moult about the middle of April, the feathers of the 

 head, edges of wings, and upper tail-coverts, changing first. At this time 



