22S LA GOP us FLPESTRIS. 



visitants. Tliey are, howeier, found commonly on Newfoundland and in L-ibmdor, migra- 

 ting- thence, during winter, into Canada, reaching, perhaps, the New Enghind States very 

 rarely. The Willow Grouse, as they are sometimes called, inhabit the barren heaths and 

 cold swamps of the countries of which I have spoken, and from these are distributed north- 

 ward into the Arctic Zone. As mentioned, they are partly migratory during certain win- 

 ters, being induced to come southward, probably, from lack of food, for this governs the 

 migration of nearly all birds. 



LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS. 

 Eoek Ptarmigan. 



Lnyopus rupestris Leach, Zool. Mi>^c., II, 290. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si>. Cn. Form, roliiist. Size, large. Tail and wings, long. Bill,ratlierslender,exeeetlini; in length, measured from 

 nostril to tip, the height at biise. Sexes, quite similar. 



Color. Adull in lointtr. White throughout, e.xceptiug tail ■which is black with the cential feathers and tips of all 

 white, and there is a black line fnjm bill througli eye. 



Aflu/f in sumnirr. Above, black, barred and spotted with yelliwish-ri.d; lighter below and hi- ladly and regularly band- 

 ed with yellowi-h-red; otliervvi>o as ij toe luale. Bill, black, iri-;, brown, claws, liurn color, ia all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from the closely allied alhus by the black band through eye and more .sleade- bill, this being longer than high 

 at base. Both species of Ptarmigans may be known from all other Grouse by the whoUv foatheied tai-sus and feet. Dis- 

 tributed in summer, throughout Arctic America, south, according to Audubon, about Bras d"Or. 



DIMENSIONS. 



.Average iiieasureinents of specimens from Arctic America. Length, 13-75; stretch. H.i'HO; wing, 7'40: tail, 4'65; bill, 

 •63; tarsus, 1 22. Ijmgest specimen, 14'5n; greatest extent of wing, 21'00; longest wing, 7'50; tail, -i'Sj; bill, '70; tarsus, 

 1-35. S lortes; sp 'ciaien, 12'S!); smallest extent of wing, 33-OII. sl.ortest wing, 7'00; tail, 4-.'50: bill, "65; tarsus, MO. 



DESCliU'TioX or NT..STS .AND ECOS. 



l\'r.'/-:. p'acel on the ground. Tliey are nnt very elabinUe structures, being composed of leaves, gras-, or any ot''er 

 (onv.-uient niateri d. 



/?'/.',"'■. fr' ui cinht to l'f;rcn in nnmhcr, < va! in f mn, rcddi~h-hiifl' in color, spotted and irvitile I with irregular Idolclies 

 )f liuriilis'.-bri.wn. Dimensions, from I'lO.x 1 ")."> to rpJx 1 li.'). 



Il.M'.n'S. 



The R )fk Pttirmigtin, ticrdrdiiig to Audubon, w;is common tibout the Bras d'Or dur- 

 ing the cold setts 111 bill retrctited into the interior of the country during summer to breeil, 

 nesting in June. There ;i]i])ears to l)e stnne confusion regtinling the distribution of this 

 species, for ir litis ('re(|ueii;ly bi'cii coiitouuded with the preceding, perluips with good re;i- 

 son. It is ])rolit!hle, however, thtit the.se birds htive much the same range, especitilly in 

 siini'.ner, tilthong'a the one under consideiMtion appears to be much less common in Canada, 

 for out of ;i birge nundier of white Pttirmigans which I htive examined from that section, T 

 never stiw an nn<loulited specimen of the Rock Ptarmigan. The htibits of both are described 

 as being similar, (xcepting that Audubon is inclined to believe that the present species 

 inlitiblts iiinre open ground than does the one Itist described. 



(lENcs 111. cui'inoNw. Till-: praikie (;uouse. 



Cttx. t'li. Pof/i •■/or man/hi <if xtrrnum. hrtm'cn indentalinns, iridennl and rounded. Tiji of keel, projrriinr/ forward. 

 Cc.sM/ /j/VKV.s'.s-, narrcio and roundid at jiiiint. 



