48 GROUSE FAMILY. 



of that frigid and cheerless region. It is also found on Mel- 

 ville Peninsula and the Barren Grounds, and indeed seldom 

 proceeds farther south in winter than the 63d parallel in the 

 interior, but descends along the coasts of Hudson Bay to lati- 

 tude 58 degrees, and in severe seasons still farther to the 

 south. It is met with in the range of the Rocky Mountains as 

 far to the south as the latitude of 55 degrees. In its habits 

 and mode of living it resembles the Willow Grouse, but does 

 not retire so far into the woody country in winter. It fre- 

 quents the open woods on the borders of lakes at the same 

 season, particularly in the 65th parallel, though the bulk of the 

 species remains on the skirts of the Barren Grounds. It 

 hatches in June. 



The usual habitat of this species is the barren ground region of 

 the Arctics, though one example was shot on Anticosti by Mr. 

 William Brewster. 



Note. — In Reixhardt's Ptarmigax (Z. i-upestris reinhardi) 

 the male in summer plumage is more mottled, above, than true 

 rupestris, and the female is black, above, varied with grayish buff. 



This race is found in Greenland and on the western shore of 

 Cumberland Bay and the northern extremity of Labrador. 



WELCH'S PTARMIGAN. 



Lagopus welchi. 



Char. In winter similar to riipestris. Male in summer: above, dark 

 brownish gray blended with whitish gray and reddish gray ; head and 

 neck lighter ; wings white ; breast and sides like back ; throat, belly, and 

 legs white; tail dusky gray; bill and claws black. Female : similar, but 

 of lighter color, and the back and breast tinged with yellow. Length 

 about 15 inches. 



Nest and Eggs. Unknown, but probably similar to rupestris. 



This species, which is closely related to the Rock Ptarmigan, is 

 restricted to Newfoundland, where it ranges over the rocky hills 

 and barrens of the interior. It was first described by Brewster, in 

 1885, from specimens taken by George O. Welch, of Lynn. 



