460 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



materials, generally leaves, occasionally mingled with feathers, hay, etc., the 

 feathers often being their own. The same nest was often made use of in 

 successive seasons. Eggs were found as late as the 24tli of June, and tjie 

 female is supposed to sit about three weeks before hatching. Occasionally 

 eggs were found dropped on the bare ground without any signs of a nest. 

 In one instance the egg was pure white, like one taken from the oviduct. 

 It was found lying on the bare ground, without the least appearance of a 

 nest in its vicinity. 



In one instance where a nest was met with, on the banks of Swan River, 

 by Mr. MacFarlane's party, en route, the female was almost trodden under 

 foot before she fluttered off, when she at once turned about to face her ene- 

 mies, spreading her wings and ruffling her feathers as if to attack or frighten 

 them away. In another case a nest containing only one fresh egg, in which 

 the female had but just begun to deposit, was found as late as June 25. 

 Other eggs found June 27 contained very large embryos. Another nest, 

 examined a fortnight later (July 10), had in it ten perfectly fresh eggs. 

 Mr. MacFarlane inferred that this nest had been robbed at an early period 

 of the season. This time she apparently made no- attempt at another 

 laying. 



In several instances where both birds were present near a nest that was 

 taken, the male bird would make his presence known by giving utterance to 

 very peculiar rough notes, indicative of alarm and of distress at the pro- 

 ceedings. In one instance a nest was found in the midst of a clump of very 

 small stunted willows, within thirty feet of the spot where Mr. MacFarlane's 

 tent was pitched. This was on the 21st of June, but the nest escaped 

 notice until the 22d of July, when the female was almost trodden on as she 

 was sitting on her eggs, where she had probably had her nest during their 

 entire stay. The eggs were warm when taken, and their contents Avere 

 slightly developed. During the night the male Ptarmigan disturbed the 

 encampment by keeping up a constant utterance of his rough and rather 

 unpleasant notes. In another instance the female fluttered off, calling, and 

 pretending to be badly wounded ; while the male bird, in the vicinity, made 

 his near presence known by the loud manner in which he expressed his 

 disapprobation of such proceedings. 



In one instance where an Indian had found a nest of this Ptarmigan, 

 which then contained seven eggs, the female was seen, and the notes of the 

 male bird were heard. He placed a snare about the eggs, but on returning to 

 the nest a few hours afterwards, he was surprised to find that six of the eggs 

 had disappeared during his brief absence. He supposed a fox had taken 

 them ; but as no egg-shells were left behind, Mr. MacFarlane has no doubt 

 they were removed by the parent birds. 



When the young are hatched they follow the parents, both of whom keep 

 about them, and display great courage and devotion whenever there is any 

 occasion, suffering themselves to be very closely approached, and utterly re- 



