146 NESTS AND EGGS OP 



the depth about four. The eggs exhibit the following dimensions: 

 1.55 X 1. 16, 1.55 X 1. 16, 1.55 X 1. 15, 1.56 X 1. 16, 1.57 X 1. 17. 



301. Lagopus lagopus (Linn.) [474.] 



'Willoftr Ptarmigan. 



Hab. Northern portions of Northern Hemisphere; in North America south in winter to Sitka, 

 northern New York, etc. 



This Ptarmigan is distributed in summer throughout Arctic 

 America. It breeds abundantly in the valleys of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains on the Barren Grounds and along the Arctic coasts. The winter 

 dress of the bird 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. Large 

 numbers of the Willow Ptarmigan are said in the winter to shelter in 

 willow thickets and dwarf birches on the banks of lakes and rivers, 

 where they feed on the buds of the smaller shrubs which form their 

 principal food at that season. Their favorite resorts in daytime are 

 barren, sandy tracts of land, but they pass the nights in holes in the 

 snow. When pursued by sportsmen or birds of prey they are said 

 to often dive into the loose snow and work their way beneath its 

 surface. 



Mr. MacFarlane found nests of this species in the Anderson River 

 region early in June, and as late as June 24th. Others were found on 

 the banks of the Swan River as late as June 27th, containing large 

 embryos. A nest observed July loth contained ten perfectly fresh 

 eggs, and another set of eggs was examined July 22, the contents of 

 which were slightly developed. The nests made on the ground were 

 mere depressions, generally lined with leaves, hay, and a few feathers 

 from the birds themselves. The same nest is often occupied in suc- 

 cessive seasons. The largest number of eggs taken by Mr. MacFar- 

 lane was ten, but the female is said to lay as many as sixteen. A few 

 of this species breed in various parts of Alaska. Mr. Dall took eggs 

 near the mouth of the Yukon in the latter part of June. The eggs 

 have a ground color varying from pale- yellowish-buff to deep chest- 

 nut-brown, more or less sprinkled, speckled, spotted or marbled with 

 rich brown or black. Average size 1.78 x 1.25. 



302. Lagopus rnpestris (Gmel.) [475-] 



Hock Ptarmigan. 



Hab. Arctic America in general, except northern extremity of Peninsula of Labrador and region 

 thence northward, Greenland and the Aleutian Islands; southeastward to Gulf of St. Lawrence, Island 

 of Anticosti. 



The Rock Ptarmigan is somewhat smaller than the foregoing and 



