688 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS - GALLING ~ ALECTOROPOBES 



the same iudividuals; aud birds takeu at diflereiit dates in the sumuier, in the same lucahty, 

 may difier from one another more than specimens from different regions, representing several 

 alleged varieties, are always found to do. The American bird, in 

 fact, is scarcely distinguishable from the Em-opeau Z. miitusov cdpinus. 

 The Greenland bird has been called L. reinhurdti by Brehm. That 

 of the Aleutian Islands, L. mutus atkensis, Turner. The latter 

 said to have the bill and claws about 0.10 longer than usual. 

 570. L. leucu'rus. (Gr. XevKos, leticos, white ; ovpd, oura, tail. Fig. 40.5.) 

 White-tailed Ptarmigan. Rocky Mountain Snow Grouse. 

 (J 9 , in winter : Entirely snow-white ; bill black, rather slender, and 

 general size and proportions nearly as in L. rupestris. <J 9 , in sum- 

 mer : Tail, most of the wing, and lower parts 

 from the breast, remaining white ; rest of the 

 plumage minutely marked with black, white, 

 and tawny or grayish-brown, varying in pre- 

 cise character almost with every specimen ; but 

 there is no difficulty in recognizing this white- 

 taUed species, of alpine distribution in West- 

 ern N. A. from the Arctic regions to New 

 Mexico (lat. 37°). In summer, inhabits the 

 mountain ranges from timber-line to the high- 

 est peaks, in winter ranging lower down. 

 Eggs very different from the heavily-painted 

 ones of L. ctlbus, of dull creamy complexion, 

 minutely dotted over the whole surface with 

 burnt-sienna, few of the markings exceeding 

 a pin's head in size, and not thick enough 

 to obscure the ground-color; shape purely 

 ovoidal, greatest diameter near the middle ; size 1.70 X 1.14 ; number variable, about a dozen, 



53. Subfamily ODONTOPHORIN/E: American Partridges and Quails. 



Head completely feathered, and usually crested, 

 the crest frequently assuming a remarkable shape. 

 Nasal fossae not fiUed with feathers, the nostrils 

 covered with a naked scale. Tarsi and toes naked, 

 the latter scarcely or not fringed, the former scu- 

 teUate. Size smaller than in TetraonincB. 



Our Partridges may be distinguished, among 

 American GalUrus, by the foregoing characters, but 

 not from those of the Old World ; aud it is highly 

 improbable that, as a group, they are separable from 

 all the forms of the latter by any decided pecuhari- 

 ties. The principal supposed character, namely, a 

 T(^^)^^''^^/f'\ •^'^Wiffl toothing of the under mandible, is very faintly 

 ^' ' indicated in some forms, and entirely w^anting in 



Fig. 406. -European Partridge. (From Dixon.) others. Pending final issue, however, it is expe- 

 dient to recognize the group, so strictly limited geographically, if not otherwise. Several 

 beautiful and important genera occur within our limits, but these Partridges are most numerous 

 in species in Central and South America. Odontopliorus is the leading genus, with perhaps 

 15 species; Eupsychortyx and Dendrortyx are other extra-limital forms; and in all, some 



Fig 405 — White-taileil Ptarmigau ; upper, in sum- 

 mer, lower, in winter. (From Hayden.) 



