NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



171 



301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. La</tiimx layoims (Linn.) Geog. Dist. North- 

 ern portions of Northern Hemisphere; in North America south in winter to Sitka, 

 northern New York, etc. 



This Ptarmigan is distributed in summer throughout Arctic America. It breeds 

 abundantly in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains on the Barren Grounds and along 

 the Arctic coasts. The winter dress of the bird is snow white, with the central tail 

 feathers black, tipped with white. In summer, the 

 head and neck are yellowish-red, back black, barred 

 rather finely with yellowish-brown and chestnut; most 

 of the wings and under parts remain white as in 

 winter. Large numbers of the Willow Ptarmigan are 

 said in the winter to shelter in willow thickets and 

 dwarf birches on the banks of lakes and rivers, where 

 they feed on the buds of the smaller shrubs which 

 form their principal food at that season. Their favor- 

 ite resorts in daytime are barren, sandy tracts of land, 

 but they pass the nights in holes in the snow. When 

 pursued by sportsmen or birds of prey they are said 

 to often dive in the loose snow and work their way be- 

 neath its surface. Mr. MacParlane found nests of this 

 species in the Anderson River region early in June, 301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 



301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN, winter plumage 'FromBrehm). 



