WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 



T N the northern portions of the Northern Hemisphere, 

 dwelHng 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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