NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



141 



301. Willow Ptarmigan. Lagopus lagopus. 



Range. Arctic regions, in America south nearly to the United States border, 

 and casually to Maine. 



Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to 

 the toe nails; they have many changes of plum- 

 age, in winter being nearly pure white, and in 

 summer largely reddish brown or grayish, bar- 

 red with black. In the breeding plumage they 

 have red comb-like wattles over the eye. In 

 other seasons, their plumage varies in all 

 degrees between winter and summer. They 

 nest on the ground in hollows among the leaves, 

 lined with a few grasses, and sometimes feath- 

 ers. They lay from six to sixteen eggs which 

 have a ground color of buff or brownish buff, 

 heavily speckled, blotched and marbled with 

 blackish brown. Size 1.75 x 1.25. 



[Brownish buff.] 



30la. Allen Ptarmigan. Lagopus lagopus alleni. 



Range. Newfoundland. A very similar bird to the preceding; eggs indistin- 

 guishable. 



302. Rock Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris. 



Range. Chiefly in the interior of British 

 America, from the southern portions to Alaska 

 and the Arctic Ocean. 



A species with a smaller bill and in summer 

 a grayer plumage, more finely barred with 

 black. Its nesting habits are the same as the 

 other species, it nesting on the ground in such 

 localities as would be frequented by the Ruffed 

 Grouse. Its eggs cannot be positively distin- 



uished from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. 

 ize 1.70 x 1.20. 



302a. Reinhardt Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris reinhardt/. 



Range. Labrador and Greenland; an eastern variety of the preceding species. 

 Its habits, nesting habits and eggs are just the same as those of Rock Ptarmigan. 



302b. Nelson Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris nelsoni. 



Range. Unalaska, of the Aleutian chain. An abundant species in its 

 restricted range, making its nest on the ground in the valleys. Eggs like the 

 others. 



302c. Turner Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris 

 Range. Atka Island of the Aleutian chain. Nests and eggs not distinctive. 



302d. Townsend Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris townscndi. 



Range. Kyska Island of the Aleutian group. 



On account of the constantly changing plumage of these birds, while intei 

 ing, they are very unsatisfactory to study, and it is doubtful if anyone can identify 

 the different sub-species of the Rock Ptarmigan, granting that there is any < 

 ference, which is doubtful. 



