WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 43 



forest regions of northern New York, and westward to Minnesota 

 and north to Labrador. 



The retiring disposition of the bird has caused its habits to be 

 httle known, and the nest is generally so well concealed that few 

 collectors have succeeded in procuring specimens of the eggs. 

 Several pairs of these birds have been successfully domesticated 

 by Mr. Watson Bishop, of Kentville, Nova Scotia, and an article 

 from his pen, published in the " Ornithologist and Oologist " for 

 January, 1889, contains much that is new concerning their habits. 

 The birds were easily tamed, and soon became so fearless as to 

 hop on Mr. Bishop's knee and take food from his hand. 



When strutting before the hen, the male poses and puffs after 

 the manner of a Gobbler. The feathers on his breast and collar 

 are raised on end ; the combs over the eyes, which can be enlarged 

 at will, almost meet above the crown; and the erect and expanded 

 tail is kept swaying from side to side with a silk like rustling. The 

 females during the nesting season are very quarrelsome, so that 

 only a few can be kept in one pen ; but this unfriendliness disap- 

 pears after the broods scatter. 



The hen will occasionally cover the first egg with grass, but not 

 often, though after several eggs have been deposited, she usually 

 flings behind her, with her claws, any leaves, grass, or similar ma- 

 terial that may chance to lie near the nest. But she never turns to 

 arrange this covering; though when on the nest she will sometimes 

 pick up with her bill any straws that may be within reach, and 

 these she tucks under her. 



The first egg of a clutch has the least amount of marking, and 

 the number of spots increases with each successive egg. The spots 

 are entirely on the surface, and are easily rubbed off. 



WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 

 white grouse. 

 Lagopus lagopus. 



Char. Bill black ; legs and feet thickly feathered to the claws. Win- 

 ter plumage pure white ; tail-feathers black, tipped with white. Male in 

 summer: head and neck chestnut; body orange brown, more tawny on 

 back and rump, barred with black; wings mostly white. Female : simi- 

 lar, but more heavily barred with black. Length about 16 inches. 



JVest. A mere depression, with a slight lining of leaves and grass, — 

 sometimes a few feathers. 



Ei,:^s. 8-16 (usually about 10) ; buff or reddish brown, marked with 

 darker brown ; i.So X 1.25. 



