l6 Elliot, New Ptarmigans from Alaska. |y^ n 



Ro:k Ptarmigans are similar in appearance, presents differences 

 in co'or and style of markings that cause it to be readily recog- 

 nizable from all its relatives, the black predominating to such 

 an extent in the hues of the plumage as to make her appear 

 much darker than the female of any other species. 



Attu Island is about 1400 miles west of Unalaska, and between 

 these points only two forms of Ptarmigans have been procured, — ■ 

 Z. r. atkensis and the subspecies L. r. townszndl described farther 

 on, both very different in all respects from L. evermaiini, and 

 there are no opportunities for intergradation, the habitats of the 

 different forms being islands and too far separated by extent 

 of sea, while Z. atkensis and Z. r. toivnsendi, to be described later, 

 preserve their peculiar general characteristics and individual dis- 

 tinctness throughout their range. The males of Z. eve>-mamii 

 bear a certain resemblance to specimens of Z. mutus, of the 

 Eastern Hemisphere, where these have much black in their 

 plumage ; but between Attu and the continent of Asia is found 

 Z. ridgwayi, a very distinct form from Bering Island, about 

 300 miles west of Attu. This would seem to bar any possible 

 relationship between Z. evermanni and any continental species, 

 though it is a surprising fact, and one that can only be theorized 

 upon and not thoroughly explained, that species which are 

 closely allied can be separated by many miles of sea and land, 

 and yet retain their specific characteristics, though distinctly 

 different species may be found occupying interlying territory. 

 This is one of the curiosities of geographical distribution, the 

 solution of which is probably beyond the power of man to fathom. 



It gives me much pleasure to bestow upon this new species 

 from Attu Prof. Evermann's name, as he was the first to bring 

 this Ptarmigan to the notice of naturalists. 



The other new form I propose to name 



Lagopus rupestris townsendi, subsp. nov. 



Habitat, Kvska and A.dak Islands, Aleutian Chain. 



Adult male, Kyska Island, 8th June, 1894, Nat. Mus. No. 13V634, type. — 

 The general color of the entire upper parts, including head and neck, 

 together with the breast and Hanks, raw umber with a tinge of russet, finely 

 vermiculated with black on lower back and rump, more coarsely marked 



