220 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



mid-June. A series of 15 birds collected on April 4 by Hamilton M. 

 Laing (1925) were just beginning to molt into the summer plumage; 

 a few were still in full, white, winter plumage. 



Food. — Of the birds collected by Laing (1925), "the cocks had 

 little in their crops; the hens in most cases were stuffed with the 

 foliage of the crowberry." 



Behavior. — Laing (1925) first met this ptarmigan on Atka Island 

 on April 4, 1924, of which he writes : 



On a cold, windy morning, with snow squalls between periods of sunshine, a 

 Duck Hawk posting along the shore was seen to rout some of these white chick- 

 ens of the north almost from the water's edge and send them whirling over 

 the white hilltop. On going ashore it was found that about fifty ptarmigan 

 were in the vicinity. They refused to fly very far and during the hunt seventeen 

 specimens were secured. Rank grass in tussocks and crowberry patches grew 

 on the hills and as there had been a good fall of snow, walking was difficult. 

 Sometimes the birds were wild, again rather stupid. They were first found 

 cuddled in the sun against the sheltered wall of a small canyon enclosing a 

 brawling stream. Afterwards they flew from one hilltop to another. They were 

 very speedy on the wing, usually flew downwind, and were extremely difficult 

 to kill. 



We noticed that the flight of the male is particularly strong and 

 vigorous ; he seems to delight in sailing against a strong wind, when 

 he can soar for a long distance, rising and falling again and again, 

 or even remaining perfectly stationary in the air like a poised falcon. 

 When walking the head is carried high, and the motions are very 

 deliberate and stately, almost stealthy in appearance, with frequent 

 nervous twitches of the tail. 



Voice. — The male utters his loud clucking notes, similar to those 

 mentioned under courtship, while walking on the ground, when 

 starting to fly, or when alighting. The female has a much softer 

 note, like cook, which is very seldom heard, as she is usually a silent 

 bird. Laing's (1925) impressions were as follows: 



The strangest thing about them was their purring snort like that of a 

 startled horse. This seemed an alarm call. A sentinel stood on a hill and 

 gave it again and again. It could be heard 300 or 400 yards, but was very 

 elusive and difficult to locate. One bird gave it in flight, with opened beak. A 

 cock that was winged purred again and again when chased and stopped 

 purring only when caught. 



LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS TOWNSENDI Elliot 



TOWNSEND'S PTARMIGAN 



HABITS 



In his original description of this subspecies, Dr. D. G. Elliot 

 (189G) gave as its range both Kiska and Adak Islands, although he 

 observed that " there is a slight difference in the appearance of the 

 birds from the two localities, and this can be attributed possibly 



