LAND BIRDS. 229 



of their shanties. One woman whose husband was the superintendent 

 of a lumber camp described it as "a large white dove with legs like those 

 of a Brahma chicken." 



Mcllwraith states that ''C. J. Bampton, Registrar of the District of 

 Algoma, mentions the Willow Ptarmigan as a rare winter visitor at Sault 

 Ste. Marie. Their southern migrations depend to some extent on the 

 peculiarities of the season, but usually they are common winter visitors 

 throughout Manitoba and the northwest" (Birds of Ontario, 1894, 176). 

 In Kumlien and Hollister's "Birds of Wisconsin," page 57, we read: "Ex- 

 ceedingly rare straggler from the north. Two specimens captured in a 

 trap at Racine in December, 1846, by Dr. P. R. Hoy. It is certain that 

 the Ptarmigan occurs as a rare winter visitor in the Northern Peninsula 

 of Michigan, and formerly at least reached Wisconsin during the severest 

 weather." Dr. S. Kneeland says: "White Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus? 

 Leach. There is a White Grouse in this region, but whether it is the L. 

 mutus, alhiis, or leucurus, I cannot positively say" (Birds of Keweenaw 

 Point, Lake Superior, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VI, 1859, 237). 



In view of the above facts it seems perfectly clear that the Willow 

 Ptarmigan formerly appeared, at least occasionally, at several of the north- 

 ernmost points in the state. Its natural habitat is far to the north, but 

 during the winter it collects in large "packs" and moves southward, often 

 several hundred miles, and doubtless under certain conditions these migra- 

 tions are extended so far that some individuals enter our territory. 



According to L. M. Turner, it is abundant in the Anderson River region 

 of Arctic America, where it nests on the ground, laying, early in June, 

 from 7 to 11 eggs, which are cream-color to buff, heavily and thickly marked 

 with brown. The period of incubation is about 17 days. According to 

 Bendire its principal food is buds and leaves of l)irch and willow, together 

 with berries and insects. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIOX. 



Adult in winter: Plumage entirely snow white except the tail and usually the shafts 

 of the outer ])rimaries, which are black. All the tail-feathers are deep black, narrowly 

 tipped with jiure white, and the white upper tail-coverts completely conceal the black 

 wiien the tail is closed. Bill black; iris brown; tarsi and toes heavily covered with fine 

 hair-like feathers; even the nails white in midwinter. In summer plumage [never seen 

 in Michigan] the male has the upper parts barred with brown and black; the head, neck, 

 and most of lower parts deej) cinnamon-rufous, uniform on throat, fore-neck and chest, 

 barred with black on sides, flanks and midcr tail-coverts; primaries and outermost wing- 

 coverts white. The female in summer has the ])rimaries and outer wing-coverts white 

 as in the male, but lacks the deep cinnamon-rufous of head, neck and lower parts, being 

 coarsely and irregularly barred and spotted with l)utT and black above, and with black 

 and buffy white below (Hidgway). 



Length 1 i to 17 inches; wing 7 to 7.r)0; (ail about 5. 



125. Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americanus americanus (AV/c/?.). (305) 



Hynonyms: Prairie Hen, Pinnated Grouse. — Cupidonia americana, Reich., isr)2. 

 — Cupidonia cupido, Baird, 1858. — Cupidonia cupido var. cupido, B. li. & R., 187"). 



Plate XIV and Figure 63, 



A much heavier bird than the Ruffed Grouse, with much sliorter tail 

 (only four inches), and with a tuft of al)()ut sixteen long, narrow foathei'S 

 on each side of the neck ovoilying a patch of bare, rod or yellow skin. It 



