224 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



and often descends to the margins of the northern settlements, 

 but the rock ptarmigan is much less common. 



The breeding range of this species extends across Labrador and 

 the region west of Hudson bay and stretches northward into the 

 Barren Grounds and southward into the spruce forest along their 

 southern border. In Alaska it is also abundant but is restricted 

 in summer to the barren sea-coast or on the open grounds of the 

 interior. Its winter range is less defined as it is found much further 

 south in some winters than in others. Mr. Brewster found 'this 

 species with young birds, at Fox bay, Anticosti, in summer, so that 

 the southern breeding limit may extend much further south than 

 is indicated above. 



A transient visitor about Montreal in winter, but common in 

 eastern Quebec north of the St. Lawrence. We have no account 

 of its occurrence in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. A casual 

 visitor on the Gatineau, north of the city of Ottawa, and at the 

 Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior. Mr. Fleming records the taking 

 of a specimen near Whitby, Ont., May 15th, 1897. An unusual 

 southern migration took place in the winter of 1896-97 when Mr. 

 Fleming recorded willow ptarmigan from as far south as Lake Nipis- 

 sing. The points cited above show that it may be looked for in 

 winter in all the northern forests. Its winter range westward of 

 Lake Superior to Lake Winnipeg is not well defined but Mr. Seton 

 cites many instances of its occurrence in northern Manitoba and 

 west and east of Lake Winnipeg. Thence westward its winter 

 range seems to be confined to spruce woods, seldom coming south of 

 lat 53° in the Saskatchewan country. Nelson and Turner unite in 

 stating that it is a plentiful resident on the entire mainland coast 

 of Alaska in summer; in winter it retires to the forest. Figgins 

 records it from Homer, the Kenai mountains and Popof island^ 

 Alaska, Anderson from Mueller bay and Grinnell from Kadiak 

 island. The only notices of its occurrence in British Columbia are at 

 Dease lake and Atlin in the northern part of the province. 



Breeding Notes. — Mr. A. P. Low has taken many eggs in Labra- 

 dor and says that the set ranges from nine to twelve. There is 

 nothing peculiar about the nest that would separate it from that 

 of the ruffed grouse. It was always found in a sheltered place, 

 however. First observed in Labrador on June 23rd a short distance 



