82 LIFE HISTOKIES OF NORTH AMEEICAN BIRDS. 



Ornitliolog'y of the western end of the Aleutian Chain,' when he .si)eaks of 

 finding nine much incubated eggs on June 21, at Attn Ishuid, and chicks 

 which Avere hatched at Kiska July 8.'" 



Mr. Turner himself writes: "When I first obtained these birds I was 

 struck witli the greater size, and also, with the shape of the bill, and greater 

 length of the claws when compared with the mainland bird. This bird fre- 

 quents the lowlands and hills of the Avestern islands of the Aleutian Chain. 

 They are quite plentiful on Atka, Amchitka, and Attn Islands. The nest is 

 built amongst the rank grasses at the bases of hills and the lowlands near 

 the beach. It is carelessly arranged with a few di'ied grass stalks and other 

 trash that may be near. The eggs vary from eleven to seventeen, and are 

 darker in color than those of the L. rnpestris and but slightly inferior in size 

 to those of L. lagopus. A number of Q^^^ of tliis species were procured, but 

 broken in transportation; hence, I can give no measurements of them. 



"Tlie general habits of this species are those of the other species. At 

 Attn they frequent the higher elevations, probably on account of the great 

 number of foxes (Vidpes lagopm Baird) wliich occur on that island and have 

 but little to subsist on. The natives of Attn assert that this species of Ptar- 

 migan occurs on Agattu Island, and that it is quite numerous there, proUably 

 on account of the absence of foxes." ^ 



Nothing further is known of the nesting habits of Turner's Ptarmigan, 

 and no specimens of their eggs have as yet found their way into the U. S. 

 National Museum collection. 



30. Lagopus welchi Brewster. 

 Welch's ptarmigan. 



Lagopus welchi Brewster, Auk, 11, Ajiril, 1885, 194. 



(B — C — R — C — U 303.) 



Geographical range : Newfoundland. 



This newly described species is based on specimens obtained during May 

 and June, 1883, by Mr. George 0. Welch, in whose honor it has been named. 



Mr. Brewster states: "The colors in the male of this Ptarmigan are con- 

 fused and blended to such a degree that a detailed description, however care- 

 fully drawn, fails to do them justice. The general eflPect is that of a dark, 

 grayish-plumbeous bird (colored not unlike the Oregon form of the Dusky 

 Grouse), plentifully besprinkled with fine dots of pepper-and-salt color. * * * 



"According to Mr. Welch these Ptarmigan are numerous in Newfound- 

 land, where they are strictly confined to the Ideak sides and summits of rocky 

 hills and mountains in the interior. Unlike the Willow Grouse of that island, 

 which in winter wander long distances and frequently cross the Gulf to Lab- 



' Report oil the Natural History Collections made in Alaska 1877-1881, Nelson, p. 139. 

 ^Contributions to the Natural History of Alaska, 1886, Turner, p. 156. 



