170 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



WILLOW GROUSE; WHITE PTARMIGAN. 



Lagopus alb us. A UD. 



JABITS. Richardson regarded this species as an in- 

 habitant of the fur countries from the 50th to the 

 70th parallel of latitude, being partially migratory 

 within those limits. It was found to breed among 

 the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, on the barren grounds, 

 and along the Arctic coasts. On the approach of winter it 

 collects in flocks, and retires southward as the severity of 

 the weather increases. They remain, however, in consid- 

 erable numbers as far north as latitude 67, even in the 

 coldest winters. It was found to be tolerably abundant at 

 the 65th parallel all the year, assembling in vast flocks on 

 the shores of Hudson Bay in the winter time. Mr. 

 Hutchins states that ten thousand of these birds have been 

 captured in a single season at Severn River. Richardson 

 adds that in 1819 these birds made their first appearance 

 at Cumberland House, latitude 54, in the second week of 

 November, and that they returned to the northward again 

 before the beginning of spring. In the winter they are 

 said to shelter themselves in thickets of willows and dwarf 

 birches,-on the banks of marshes and lakes, the buds of the 

 smaller shrubs being the principal part of their food at 

 that season. Denuded sandy spots were their favorite re- 

 sorts in the day time, but they passed their nights in holes 

 in the snow. When pursued by sportsmen or birds of 

 prey, they often terminate their flight by hastily diving 

 into the loose snow, working their way beneath its sur- 

 face with considerable celerity. In thick, windy, or snowy 

 weather they were very shy, perching on the taller wil- 

 lows, where it required a sharp eye to distinguish them 



