WELCH'S PTARMIGAN. 83 



rador, the Rock Ptarmigan are very local, and for the most part spend their 

 lives on or near the hills where they are reared." 1 



In his notes on the "Zoology of Newfoundland," in the Zoologist (second 

 series, 1869, Vol. iv, p. 1747), Henry Reeks, esq., refers to the present species, 

 under the name of Rock Ptarmigan, as follows: "A truly Alpine species in New- 

 foundland ; rarely found below the line of stunted black spruce, except in the 

 depths of winter, when they descend to the lowlands and feed 011 the buds 

 of dwarf trees, sometimes in company with the Willow Grouse; but I never 

 saw this species perch on trees. It is called by the settlers the 'Mountain 

 Partridge.'" 



The nest and eggs of this species have not as yet, so far /is I am aware, 

 been described, but are presumably similar to those of Lagopus rupestris. 



31. Lagopus leucurus SWAINSON. 



WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. 



Lagopus leucurus SWAINSON, Fauna Boreali Americana, n, 1831, PI. 63. 



(B 4G9, C 388, R 476, C 570, U 304.) 



GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE : Alpine summits of Rocky Mountains; south to New 

 Mexico; north into British America (as far as Fort Halkett, Liard River) ; west to 

 higher ranges of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 



The breeding range of the White-tailed Ptarmigan, within the United 

 States at least, is only found on or near the summits of the higher mountain 

 ranges, and apparently always above timber line. It extends from Alaska 

 southward through western North America, reaching its most southerly point 

 iu northern New Mexico (vicinity of Taos), where Dr. B. J. D. Irwin, U. S. 

 Army, obtained specimens near Cantonment Burgwyn. It has also been met 

 with in eastern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, where, in suitable 

 localities, it is by no means rare. 



On the Pacific coast it is reported common in the mountains of Brit- 

 ish Columbia and the Olympic and Cascade Ranges in Washington, espe- 

 cially on Mounts Baker, Ranier, and St. Helen's. In Oregon it is reported 

 from Mounts Hood and Jefferson, and, according to Indian testimony, it occurs 

 as far south as Diamond Peak, 60 miles north of Fort Klamath, Oregon. I 

 know of no record, however, that this species has actually been taken in 

 ( )regon. The Washington records are given on the authority of Prof. O. B. 

 Johnson, of Washington University, Seattle, Washington, as well as of other 

 correspondents. 



Mr. W. M. Wolfe, of Kearney, Nebraska, writes me of having found the 

 White-tailed Ptarmigan in the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming, and in 

 the Bitter Root Mountains of Idaho and Montana. 



It is a resident and breeds wherever found, rarely leaving the mountain 

 summits, even during the severest winter weather, and then only descending 



1 Brewster, Ank, n, April, 1885, pp. 194, 195. 



