WILLOW PTARMIGAN 179 



lay no more unless she selects a new location, which, 

 of course, would be difficult to ascertain. 



"I cannot speak accurately on the subject, but think 

 that seventeen days are required to incubate the eggs. 

 On the 2Oth of June I obtained a young bird of this 

 species, which was less than forty-eight hours out of 

 the shell. This was the earliest record. Thousands 

 of these young must perish annually, either from the 

 cold rains or from their parents being killed for food. 

 . . . After the middle of August the birds have ac- 

 quired a good size and are then feeding on berries of 

 various kinds. They are then quite tender, of nearly 

 white flesh, and when properly prepared form a pleas- 

 ant food for the table. The young birds of the year 

 attain their full growth by the first of November." 



It thus seems that this ptarmigan is monogamous, a 

 pair mating and remaining together through the breed- 

 ing season, the male taking part in the care of the 

 young, showing a strong attachment for them and 

 being devoted to the female. 



The food of this species consists chiefly of the buds 

 and leaves of various willows and birches, as well as 

 berries of different sorts, which during the summer 

 are exceedingly abundant in that country. The eggs, 

 like those of other ptarmigan, are cream-colored as to 

 groundwork and are marked with blotches, spots and 

 cloudings of reddish and dark brown, often entirely 

 covering the ground color. Captain Bendire tells us 

 that all these markings are readily removable from the 

 freshly laid egg. 



