Arouse anb (^tfter Hanb 



E are supposed to have four kinds of grouse 

 on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence; 

 the ruffed grouse or birch partridge Bonasa 

 umbellus (Mr. Hammond's friend) the willow 

 ptarmigan, Lag opus Albus the rock ptarmigan, 

 L. rupestris and the white-tailed ptarmigan, 

 L. leucurus. 



The rock ptarmigan is hardly worth mention- 

 ing, either for sport or food, for it is too rare and 

 too seldom found near the coast. I have killed 

 them inland, and on the barren mountains of the 

 Labrador. In July and August, 1907, I found 

 several coveys of young birds on the higher 

 ranges east and west of the Washecootai River. 



Of the white-tailed species I have only killed 

 one specimen (Dec. 7, 5 94)), and even of that one 

 I am not quite sure, as it possibly may have been 

 an albino of the willow ptarmigan. It was a 

 smaller bird than the ordinary ptarmigan. 



The ruffed grouse may be classed as common, 

 being found all over the coast as far north as the 

 Mingan Islands. I have not seen nor shot any 

 specimens further north than that. In some years 

 they are abundant for a time, and then disap- 

 pear. I have noticed that heavy sleet in winter 

 will sometimes drive them away from certain 



