WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 
| the northern portions of the Northern Hemisphere, 
dwelling amid the snow and desolate places, the 
Willow Grouse ranges throughout the Arctic regions of 
the globe, and is found around the world in the high lati- 
tudes. In the New World it is a resident of the fur 
countries, and dwells from the Arctic Ocean to Sitka and 
the Chilcat Peninsula on the Pacific Coast, and across 
the Continent, in the east, coming down in winter to 
northern New York. In the latter season it is very 
abundant in different portions of Canada. In the spring 
the Ptarmigan descends to the low grounds and the 
male begins his singular maneuvers to entice some 
female to join him. Selecting some particular spot, gen- 
erally a slight elevation, he struts about with lowered 
wings and expanded tail, head thrown back, and the red 
combs over the eyes erect and conspicuous, takes a short 
flight upward, and then sails around in a circle, descend- 
ing slowly on curved wings, alighting usually at or near 
the place from which he arose, uttering all the time short 
quick notes resembling a petulant, hoarse bark. Regain- 
ing his first position he calls in a different note several 
times repeated, and in a few moments again makes his 
circular flight. 
If the birds are numerous in the locality many males 
will be seen executing similar movements, and the air re- 
sounds with their barking notes. In due course the 
females appear in the vicinity, and then the males are ex- 
cited to frenzy and desperate battles occur among them, 
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