allen's ptarmigan 193 



found a nest from which the young had hatched, which he describes 

 in his notes, as follows : 



The site was on the side of a ridge some 20 feet above the marshy ground 

 at its base. A few bushes grew at this point, and under the overhanging 

 branch of one of these the nest had been made. Even at this season the hollow 

 that had been the nest was well defined. There was no indication of lining 

 beyond the accumulation of fine dry leaves, bits of sticks, moss, and other 

 vegetation that made up the general ground cover on the whole ridge. The 

 eggshells from which the young had hatched were still in the nest. 



Eggs. — The eggs of Allen's ptarmigan are indistinguishable from 

 those of its mainland relative. The measurements of 54 eggs aver- 

 age 42.5 by 33 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes 

 measure 45.6 by 32.3, 44.1 by 37.6, 40.1 by 30.2, and 43.4 by 28.7 

 millimeters. 



Plumages. — The molts and plumages of this race are similar to 

 those of the willow ptarmigan. It is interesting to note, however, 

 that many of the wings sent by Mr. Comeau to Doctor Merriam 

 (1885) taken from birds killed in November, were "deeply tinged 

 with a delicate and ver}^ beautiful shade of rose-pink which is more 

 pronounced than in a freshly killed Roseate Tern." Mr. Whitaker 

 has also noted this, as he says in his notes : " They are in full white 

 winter plumage by the end of October; I say white, but there is a 

 beautiful faint pink flush; I first noticed this when having shot 

 several one winter day and laid them on a block of pale blue ice, 

 this showed up the pink to advantage ; the pink quickly fades after 

 death." 



Food. — In his notes on food, Whitaker writes : 



As the snow melts off the high ground many berries that have lain snug 

 all winter provide plenty of food; after these are shriveled up by the sun 

 and before the new crop matures, the birds feed on the tips of a low-growing 

 plant, which looks like a very dwarf heather. In August the blueberries and 

 partridgeberries (Mitchella rcpens) ripen and on these they feed almost ex- 

 clusively. When the snow begins to pile up on the highlands during October 

 the bulk of the birds move down to lower levels and begin feeding principally 

 on buds of scrub birch ; they also eat buds of blueberry and pussy willow. 



The birds shot by Mr. Kersey had their crops filled with blueberries 

 and their leaves, the small green berries from a dwarf evergreen 

 resembling a cedar, or with small white seeds. 

 Behavior. — Mr. Whitaker says in his notes : 



These ptarmigan are very tame in the wilder districts, where they are not 

 disturbed or shot, and seem loath to take wing ; they will run in front of you 

 stopping every few yards and spread their tails with a quick jerky motion ; 

 they often utter a suppressed little grunting note, possibly a protest against 

 your intrusion in their midst. 



