206 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



rounded, consisting of fourteen feathers, but counting the two 

 long upper median coverts, sixteen. Sexes dissimilar, both 

 turning white in winter. 



Ptarmigan dwell in high latitudes, and are found in the Arctic 

 regions of both hemispheres, one species, L. lagopus, being an 

 inhabitant of both the Old and New Worlds. They are recog- 

 nizable from other grouse by having the toes as well as the legs 

 covered with feathers, sometimes the claws even being hidden. 

 Also, all the species save one {Lagopus scoticus), turn white in 

 winter, and the difference between that and the summer dress is 

 so great, and the latter is retained for so brief a period, that the 

 plumage appears to be always in a transient state, and the birds 

 are robed for the greater portion of the year in a piebald dress. 

 There are recognized at present four species and six subspecies 

 inhabiting North America, and several other distinct species which 

 are natives of the Old World. While possessing characteristic 

 traits, which render them easily recognizable from each other, 

 when the specimens are before the observer, there is, nevertheless, 

 such a uniformity of color and markings among a number of the 

 species and their races, that it is no easy matter to indicate the 

 difference so as to clearly define them to the comprehension of any- 

 one who has not seen the specimens. Therefore the accompany- 

 ing key, while it gives the most marked differences observable, 

 may fail to be of equal assistance to those entirely unfamiliar with 

 Ptarmigan as are the keys for the other species of gallinaceous 

 game birds. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

 A. Tail always black. 

 • a. No black loral space in male. 



^ WILLOW PTAR- 



a!. Shafts of secondaries, white. \ migan. 



L. lagopus. 



Allen's ptar- 



b' . Shafts of secondaries, black.* \ migan. 



b. Black loral space in male. 

 a! . Male in summer with black blotches 

 on back and scapulars, vermiculations 



L. I. alleni. 



ROCK PTAR- 



coarse. Ground color grayish brown. V migan. 



Female, bright ochraceous, spotted and L. rupestris. 

 barred with black. 



*See remarks in article on this bird, page 149. 



