210 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



similar flight occurs from Ellesmere Island to Greenland. In north- 

 ern Labrador, according to Bernhard Hantzsch (1929), the flight is 

 irregular. He says: 



In the middle of September, 1905, countless flocks are said to have flown 

 southward over Killinek. In 1906 the first ptarmigan were not observed until 

 28th September. From 4th October they appeared somewhat more numerously 

 in a heavy, driving snow and some cold, but rather large hunting parties did 

 not get many, particularly as they could not yet travel in the light fall of 

 snow. Whether the unusually long and mild fall kept the birds in their 

 northern dwelling places, or induced them to choose another migration route, 

 must remain unknown. 



Winter. — Many rock ptarmigan evidently spend the winter in the 

 lowlands of Ungava, mainly near the coasts, for Turner says: 



During the summer months they are quite scarce in the vicinity of Fort 

 Chimo, retiring to the interior and to the hills of Georges River vicinity for 

 that season, to return about the first of November. This month will be 

 considered as a starting point for their wanderings. Then they appear in full 

 winter plumage and in flocks of various sizes, often numbering over 200 

 individuals. They resort to the open ground and rock ridges where the snow 

 is more apt to drift from, or during severest weather they retreat to the 

 sheltered places amongst the bushes of alder and willow along the streams 

 and gullies. These situations afford food of berries of various kinds, which 

 yet remain on the stems of prostrate shrubs, twigs and buds of dwarf birch, 

 alder, and willow, together with a few blades of grass. These ptarmigan 

 remain until the latter part of March and disappear as suddenly as they came. 



O. J. Murie writes to me as follows : 



During winter the rock ptarmigan along the eastern coast of Hudson Bay 

 were very tame and easily approached, much more so than the willow 

 ptarmigan. The latter birds confined themselves generally to willows or 

 alders or even in the edge of the woods. L. rupestris, on the other hand, 

 were generally found in the open or rocky slopes, feeding on the willow tips 

 protruding from the snow or the berries of Empetrum, in spots where the 

 ground was blown bare of snow. At times the feathers around the beak 

 were stained purple as a result of feeding on this fruit. Even when resting 

 these hardy birds did not always seek shelter. Once I found a group of two 

 or three crouching on the bare top of a little rise, all hunched up in a little 

 ball and facing a persistent, cold north wind. One of them remained in 

 the same position while I approached within about 4 or 5 feet to photograph 

 it, finally walking off quietly when I reached out still nearer. Generally this 

 species was found in the shelter of a little bush, a single stunted tree, or small 

 clump, but not often in heavy cover. 



Enemies. — Hantzsch (1929) writes: 



The flights of ptarmigan are accompanied by birds of prey; especially the 

 proud Gyrfalcon, the smaller Duck Hawk, and the beautiful Snowy Owl follow 

 them. If the flight is smaller, as in the autumn of 1906. then these birds 

 are observed only in small numbers. In addition, foxes assemble, particularly 

 Vulpes layopus (Arctic Fox), in places where there are many Ptarmigan, and all 

 the other beasts of prey, in like manner, probably take a share at the appearance 

 of our much desired bird. 



