The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. Щ 



lying farthest out to sea as for instance Lille Koldewey, Marous- 

 sia, the outer skerries, He de France as on those farthest up the 

 firths as Nordre Orienteringsø and all the small islands in Dove 

 Bugt. 



In April 1908 many foot-prints of Ptarmigans were seen in 

 Dronning Louises Land 60 kilometer up the inlandice. 



Koch and Bertelsen found May 18'^^ 1907 fresh foot-prints of 

 Ptarmigans in the snow on a very extensive table-land lying on lat. 

 83° 12' n. 500 meters over the level of the sea. 



According to Brønlund's posthumous diary the Ptarmigan must 

 have occurred rather commonly in Mylius-Erichsens Land, especi- 

 ally along the western coast of Danmarks Fjord. Thus the tra- 

 velling party has secured 13 Ptarmigans on one day viz. August 

 26th 1907. 



In the absolutely dark season Ptarmigans or foot-prints of them 

 were nowhere found in spite of numerous researches on different 

 places, and there can be no doubt, that this species for some three 

 months leaves this part of North-East Greenland. 



It may be supposed, that the birds only migrate to somewhat 

 more southerly lying parts of East Greenland ^ as they already begin 

 to return in the beginning of February, when the sun has not yet 

 appeared. (In 1907 the first Ptarmigan was seen at the ship's har- 

 bour February 4'^ and the next year 4 days later.) 



The migration lasted through February, March and the larger 

 part of April, and the number of Ptarmigans within a certain place 

 might differ a good deal in this time. 



In the coldest season (February and March) the Ptarmigans 

 wandered around in small flocks numbering 2 to 5 birds, rarely 

 more, but not unfrequently singly; the stayed on the plains gene- 

 rally near the shore seeking their food on spots swept clean by 

 storms. 



Their principal food consisted of buds and short bits of stalks 

 of Salix arctica. According to Dr. Lindhard's analyses stomachs of 

 Ptarmigans shot at this season also contained leaves of Dryas octo- 

 petala and crowns of leaves of Saxifraga oppositifolia. 



In fine weather these hardy birds did not seem inconvenienced 

 by the temperature frequently as low as some 40° below zero. But 

 it was hard to the Ptarmigans to support their lives during severe 

 snow-storms, and when the earth was covered by thick evenly lying 

 crusted snow. 



At sunset they flew to the rocks and remained there over night. 



' According to H. Winge: "Grønlands Fugle" wintering Ptarmigans are seen on 

 Shannon even in great numbers. 



