CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 227 



inhabits the islands lying on the southwest side of Baffin bay. 

 (Richardson.) The ptarmigan is common on EUesmere island. Only 

 the hens change colour and become dark in the spring; with the 

 exception of a few dark feathers on the crown of their head the 

 cocks retain their white winter garb. (E. Bay.) 



302b. Nelson Ptarmigan. 



Lagopus rupestris nelsoni Stejn 1884. 



The types of this race were taken by Mr. Nelson, in spring, at 

 Unalaska, and Dall collected winter specimens at the same place. 

 This ptarmigan is common on the Aleutian islands at least from 

 Unalaska eastward, where it frequents the mountain tops and slopes, 

 breeding there in June. (Nelson.) A few pairs were seen on barren 

 rocky parts of the "Portage mountain" between the head of the 

 Chulitna river and Swan lake, Alaska, and they were seen again 

 in the mountains on the Kanatak portage and about Cold bay. With 

 the material at hand I have been unable to satisfactorily distinguish 

 the rock ptarmigan of the Alaska peninsula from those of Unalaska 

 island. (Osgood.) 



302c. Turner Ptarmigan. 



Lagopus rupestris atkhensis (Turner) Nelson. 1883. 



This ptarmigan is quite plentiful on Atka, Amchitka and Attu 

 islands; it frequents the lowlands and hills of the western islands 

 of the Aleutian chain. The nest is built amongst the rank grasses 

 at the bases of the hills and lowlands near the beach. (Turner.) 



302d. Townsend Ptarmigan. 



Lagopus rupestris townsendi Elliot. 1896. 



Kyska and Adak islands, Aleutian chain. The specimens, a 

 male and female, upon which this sub-species is founded were taken 

 on the 8th June, 1894, on Kyska island, and on the 4th July, 1893, 

 on Adak island, by Mr. Townsend. (The Auk, Vol. XIII, pp. 26-29, 

 1896.) 



