WILLOW PTARMIGAN (Lagopus lago- 

 pus lagopus) . There are three distinct species 

 of Ptarmigan or "Snow Grouse," several 

 species not so well defined, and several, races 

 of some of these species. The present spe- 

 cies, or its varieties, inhabits the Arctic re- 

 gions generally, in America breeding from 

 southern Ungava, Keewatin and the Aleu- 

 tian Islands northward, and in winter coming 

 south to Ontario, Minnesota and British 

 Columbia and casually to the New England 

 States. 



ROCK PTARMIGAN (Lagopus rupesiris 

 rupestris). Slightly smaller than the last, 

 measuring a trifle more than a foot. The 

 bill is considerably smaller comparatively, 

 and in all stages of plumage there is a black 

 spot in front of the eyes. This species is 

 found in northern Canada from Ungava to 

 Alaska where several similar races occur. 



WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN (La- 

 gopus Icucurus) are still smaller and all the 

 tail feathers are wholly white. These are 

 found in the Rocky Mountains from New 

 Mexico north to Alaska. 



Ptarmigan are remarkable birds in that 

 they are in an almost continual state of 

 molting, nearly every month in the year 

 showing them in different stages of plumage, 

 ranging from the snow-white winter dress to 

 the summer one in which reddish-brown pre- 

 vails on Willow Ptarmigan and a black and gray barred effect predominates 

 on the other species. Notice that they are feathered to the toes, in winter 

 the feathers on the toes growing dense and hair-like, not only protecting the 

 toes from the cold but making excellent snowshoes which enable them to 

 walk with impunity over the lightest snow. 



Ptarmigan form the staple article of diet for northern foxes, and were it 

 not for the fact that their plumage changes to correspond to the appearance 

 of the ground at the various seasons they would fare hardly indeed. 



In spring the little red combs above the eyes of the males are swollen and 

 conspicuous. At this season they strut and perform curious antics, such as 

 all grouse are noted for. 



WILLOW PTARMIGA> 

 ROCK PTARMIGAN 



51 



