116 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



474. Willow Ptarmigan — lagopus albus. Cream color, tinged with 

 reddish .shading, marked with large, bold and confluent blotches of dark 

 chestnut and mahogany; ten to sixteen; size about 1.80 by 1.20. This 

 Ptarmigan is distributed in summer throughout Arctic America. It breeds 

 abundantly in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains on the barren grounds 

 and along the Arctic coasts. The winter dress of this biid is snow white, 

 with the central tail feathers black, tipped with white. In summer, the 

 head and neck are yellowish red, back black, barred rather finely with 

 yellowish-brown and chestnut; most of the wings and under parts remain 

 white as in winter. The nest of this beautiful bird is made on the ground, 

 composed of a few leaves, weeds, etc., carelessly thrown together. 



Hab. Arctic and Northern North America from ocean to ocean, into the northernmost United States. 



475. Rock Ptarmigan — lagopus rupestris. Deep reddish-cream 

 color, nearly covered by blotches of reddish chestnut; ten to fifteen or 

 more; average smaller than those of L. albus. The summer distribution 

 of the bird is the same. The winter and summer plumage is similar to 



that of L. allniS, Hab. Arctic America, not south to United States. 



476. White tailed Ptarmigan — lagopus leucurus. The Rocky Moun- 

 tain Snow Grouse inhabits the alpine regions of Western North America 

 from British America south to New Mexico. In summer it is found on 

 the mountain ranges from the timber line to the highest peaks; at this 

 season, the upper parts of the plumage of this species are minutely marked 

 with black, white, grayish-brown and tawny, with the tail, wing and lower 

 parts white. In winter the plumage is entirely white. Mr. Dille informs 

 me that it breeds commonly in Lamar and Weld Counties, Colorado, 

 making the nest on the ground under bushes on hillsides. It is composed 

 of leaves and grass. The eggs are from ten to fifteen in number, creamy 

 ground-color, marked very finely over the entire surface with umber brown; 

 size about 1.74 by 1.20. 



Hab. Western North America, from Arctic regions South to New Mexico flat. 37°). 



477. Prairie Hen — cupidonia cupido. Light clay or dark tawny- 

 brown ; sometimes, not always, sprinkled with brown ; usually eight to 

 twelve in number; size about 1.75 by 1.23. This well-known game bird 

 was once found throughout United States' at present it is found on the 

 Western plains, east of the Rocky Mountains, in favorable locations in 

 the States that border the Mississippi River on the east. It is a rare resi- 

 dent in Northwestern and Central Ohio. Probably breeds. The nest is 

 made on the ground, composed of a few leaves and dry grass. 



Hab Fertile prairie country of the United States, nearly to eastern foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains in 

 some latitudes— especially Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern half of Minnesota, Southeastern Dakota, Middle 

 and Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, Arkansas and Eastern Texas. Var. C. c. patlidicincta from Southwest- 

 ern prairies. Still lingers in certain localities in the Middle States and New England. 



