THE AUK: 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 



ORNITHOLOGY. 

 vol. xi. July, 1894. no. 3. 



GEOGRAPHICAL, VERSUS SEXUAL, VARIATION 

 IN OREORTTX PICTUS. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY, 



Plate VI. 



Certain inconsistencies in the 'Catalogue of the Game Birds 

 in the British Museum,' in the treatment of North American 

 species, have already been referred to by Dr. Allen in his review 

 of that important work. 1 I feel quite sure that all Americiin 

 ornithologists, at least, who are familiar with the geographical 

 and other variations presented by our Grouse and Partridges will 

 fully indorse the reviewer's observation that "'it seems about time 

 to expect a more intelligent conception of the subject of subspecies 

 and 'climatic variation' than is shown in the present volume" ; 

 but I am sorry Dr. Allen did not give his attention to the remarks 

 on the American Ptarmigans in the Introduction to the 'Catalogue 

 of the Game Birds,' which might be considered "amusing" were 



1 Cf. The Auk, April, 1894, pp. 171, 172. 



