WILLOW PTARMIGAN 183 



early in the morning, sometimes so early that it is im- 

 possible to distinguish them unless there happens to 

 be some dark background. The morning flight, when 

 abundant, will last an hour or two. The size of the 

 flock varies, in ordinary seasons, from ten to fifteen or 

 twenty. In years of great abundance, flocks of a hun- 

 dred or more are common. On the I4th of December, 

 1885, I saw at Trinity Bay, six miles east of Pointe 

 des Monts, one flock which contained many thousands. 

 It was a continuous mass of birds over half a mile 

 long and from sixty to a hundred yards wide. I have 

 never seen anything approaching this before, nor have 

 I since. When in large flocks they are, as a rule, shy, 

 especially if the weather is very cold or windy, and 

 will rise long before one gets within ordinary range. 

 On the wing, however, they do not seem to mind any- 

 thing in their way, flying over and around one with- 

 out apparently noticing him. They are very strong 

 on the wing, not any faster than the ruffed grouse, but 

 capable of sustaining much longer flights, occasionally 

 going five or six miles without resting. 



"In small bunches and in snowy and mild weather 

 they are quite tame, and when feeding in the thick 

 willow bottoms it is hard work to get them to rise out of 

 them. After feeding they congregate around some 

 clump of willow, and scratching a small hollow in the 

 snow, will lie perfectly still for hours, the top of the 

 head just level with the snow, the black eye and beak 

 alone betraying their presence. The popular idea of 

 their diving in the snow to escape pursuit is most 



