SOUTHERN WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN 239 



little while to look at the object of alarm. I have sometimes chased them 

 half a mile or more, over the rocky, craggy ridges of the main range, without 

 being able to get within gunshot, or force them to take wing. The flight of 

 the Ptarmigan is strong, rapid, and at times sustained for a considerable 

 distance, though usually they fly but a few hundred yards before alighting 

 again. It resembles that of the Prairie Hen, consisting of rapid flappings of 

 the wings, alternating with the sailing flight of the latter bird. The note 

 is a loud cackle, somewhat like the Prairie Hen's, yet quite different; and 

 when uttered by a large flock together, reminds one of the confused murmur 

 and gabble of a flock of shore-birds about to take wing. It is a gregarious 

 bird, associating in flocks throughout the year, except in the breeding season. 

 The different broods gather together as soon as they are nearly grown, forming 

 large flocks, sometimes of a hundred or more. 



Dr. D. G. Elliot (1897) says: 



They were not what may be called tame, unlike the Willow Grouse in this 

 respect, but were always very uneasy at my presence, and ran about with 

 uplifted tail as if uncertain which way to fly, but when they once got started 

 there seemed to be no farther difficulty in their minds as to the proper direc- 

 tion, which I noticed never led near where I stood. Sometimes I have seen 

 them light on the bare limbs of a stunted tree or large bush at the edge 

 of the timber line, where they stood perfectly motionless for quite a length 

 of time, observing every movement I made, and then suddenly burst away with 

 great speed, uttering a low cackle as they flew. They are very skillful in 

 concealing themselves, either squatting in the snow with only the head exposed 

 to view, or else crouching behind some stone or large bowlder. In summer 

 their peculiar gray plumage assimilates so well to the hue of the ground 

 and the moss-covered stones lying about in all directions that it is next to 

 impossible to perceive them, and at this period, especially during the breeding 

 season, they rarely move when approached, perhaps only going a few feet 

 on one side to avoid being stepped upon. 



Denis Gale wrote to Major Bendire (1892) : 



Irrespective of season, as a general rule, a single bird will not flush unless 

 urged to it. During the summer months this is especially noticeable ; they 

 will only move out of your way when directly in your path, and close upon 

 them, by short tacks right and left, sidling off from you, at each tack chang- 

 ing sides, moving quickest on the short run just before slowing up for 

 the turn. Two or more together are much more likely to flush, and if alarmed 

 while flying will utter a quick repeated kock, kock, very like the note uttered by 

 Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris under similar circumstances. 



Game. — The white-tailed ptarmigan is a fine game bird for those 

 who are hardy enough to stand the hard tramping necessary for its 

 pursuit in the high mountains. Edwyn Sandys (1904) writes: 



Unlike many of its kin, this bird is not troubled with overconfidence in man, 

 but is apt to fly smartly and present none too easy a mark. It is also quite 

 a runner, and taken altogether, the " snow quail," as the miners call it, is a fit 

 quarry for an expert, especially if he be a " tenderfoot," unused to Alpine work 

 and the pure, thin air of the heights; for this ptarmigan is a lover of high 

 altitudes, seldom, if ever, being seen lower than five or six thousand feet. 



