LAGOPUS. 109 



quills, secondaries, and outermost wing-covcrts white ; lower 

 parts varying from ochraceous to bufFy whitish, coarsely and 

 irregularly barred with black. Young : Above coarsely and 

 irregularly varied with black and ochraceous-buff, the latter 

 mostly on or near margins of feathers; chest, breast, and sides 

 ochraccous-buff, coarsely barred with black ; other lower parts 

 dull white. Downy young : General color olive-buff, tinged with 

 sulphur-yellow on lower parts, and with rusty on chest and 

 upper parts ; crown chestnut, bordei'ed all round by a black 

 line, which is continued from occiput down hind-neck in a 

 broad stripe; two more or less distinct blackish stripes on 

 rump, and other upper parts irregularly varied, more or less, 

 with black ; a black streak on side of bead (most distinct and 

 continuous behind eye). Eggs 1.69 X 1-22, ground-color varj-ing 

 from pale buffy to deep brown, more or less speckled, sprinkled, 

 sj)otted, or marbled with rich brown or black. Hab. Northern 

 portions of northern hemisphere; south, in winter, in America, 

 to Sitka, northern New York (accidental), etc. 



301. L. lagopus (Linn.). Willow Ptarmigan, 

 c". Shafts of secondaries black, and quills (sometimes a few of the wing- 

 coverts also) more or less blotched or mottled with duskj-. (Sum- 

 mer plumages and j'oung unknown.) Hah. Newfoundland. 



301rt. L. lagopus alleni Stejn. Allen's Ptarmigan. 

 6'. Bill small and slender (depth at base less than .40) ; length 13.00-14.75, 

 wing about 7.00-7.50, bill from nostril about .35, depth at base about 

 .27-35 ; winter plumage with lores deep black in male (sometimes in 

 female also). 

 c'. Summer males with upper parts coarselj- vermiculated. the back and 

 scapulars with large black blotches (occupying central portions of 

 feathers). 

 d\ Ground-color of upper parts in summer males grayish brown. 



e'. Summer male: Above grayish brown coarsely vermiculated 

 with black, the vermiculations having a general tcndencj' 

 to form irregular zigzag bars ; scapulars and interscapulars 

 largely black centrally, producing large blotches or irregu- 

 lar spots ; outermost wing-coverts, quills, and secondaries 

 (except tcrtials) white ; top of head blackish, the feathers 

 tipped with light brownish; lores black; rest of Jiead 

 mixed dusky and white, the latter predominating on 

 cheeks, chin, and throat; chest and upper breast regular!}- 

 barred with blackish and light umber-brown ; sides simi- 

 larly marked, but bars finer and more confused ; rest of 

 lower parts white, the lower tail-coverts with concealed 

 portion dusky, or sooty slate. Siimnwr female : Bright 

 ochraceous, irregularly spotted and barred above with 



