eveemann's ptarmigan 231 



Unalaska. Dr. D. G. Elliot (1896) in his original description of it 

 observes : 



The males of L. evermanni bear a certain resemblance to specimens of L. 

 mutus, of the Eastern Hemisphere, where these have much black in their 

 plumage; but between Attu and the continent of Asia is found L. ridgwayi, 

 a very distinct form from Bering Island, about 300 miles west of Attu. This 

 would seem to bar any possible relationship between L. evermanni and any con- 

 tinental species, though it is a surprising fact, and one that can only be 

 theorized upon and not thoroughly explained, that species which are closely 

 allied can be separated by many miles of sea and land, and yet retain their 

 specific characteristics, though distinctly different species may be found occupy- 

 ing interlying territory. This is one of the curiosities of geographical dis- 

 tribution, • the solution of which is probably beyond the power of man to 

 fathom. 



Everyone who has visited Attu Island has remarked on the scarcity 

 of this ptarmigan. Perhaps it may live so far up on the mountains 

 that its favorite haunts have not been visited; this would fit my 

 theory that the dark-colored birds are mountain birds and that 

 the light-colored birds are lowland birds. But perhaps the scarcity 

 may be due to persistent hunting by the inhabitants of Chichagof 

 Village or to the presence of blue foxes, which are very common here. 

 Doctor Elliot had only seven specimens on which to base his de- 

 scription. Austin H. Clark (1910) writes: 



I did not find this bird at all common on Attu, doubtless because I did not 

 succeed in locating its favorite haunts. During an entire day's trip over the 

 mountains on the right of the harbor, behind the town, and about the large 

 lake at the summer encampment, only three were seen, one in the mountains 

 above the lake and two in the lowlands between the town and the lake. 

 All three were shot. On arriving at the ship one of the men told me he 

 had never seen ptarmigan so common as about the summit of the mountains 

 at the left of the harbor entrance. As he had had considerable experience 

 with ptarmigan in seldom visited portions of Alaska, and was a reliable man, 

 'I arranged to visit the locality the next day with him as a guide in order 

 to obtain a series of this little known species. We started early and reached 

 the place a little before noon, but, although the droppings of the birds were 

 extremely abundant everywhere, we saw none of the birds themselves. Just as 

 we were preparing to leave, after searching the whole district thoroughly, a 

 fine cock came flying over from one of the neighboring peaks and was 

 promptly secured. On our way back to the shore we saw one other which 

 was chased for over a mile but without success. 



Hamilton M. Laing (1925) says: 



During our three days' stay at Attu Island only three ptarmigan were found. 

 A single bird on April 20 bounded up from the shore and flew wildly away. 

 Next day, which was warm and sunny, two single birds were seen sitting on 

 the brow of the bluff above the shore and both were secured. Even in life 

 the difference between these birds and the previous forms was evident, the 

 new blackish feathering giving them a decided speckled appearance. A climb 

 to one of the hilltops disclosed no evidence of the birds at higher elevations. 



