THE WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 



{Lao;optis lagopus.) 



C. C. M. 



IT has been claimed by some orni- 

 thologists that this species of 

 grouse is not to be found in this 

 country, but it is now well estab- 

 lished that it may be found in northern 

 portions of New Hampshire and north- 

 ern New York. In summer it is dis- 

 tributed throughout Arctic America. 

 It breeds abundantly in the valleys of 

 the Rocky Mountains on the Barren 

 Grounds and along the Arctic coasts. 

 Davie, who is probably the best au- 

 thority we have, says that the winter 

 dress of this beautiful 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, although 

 the most of the wings and under parts 

 remain white as in winter. Large num- 

 bers 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 favorite resorts in day 

 time are barren, sandy tracts of land, 

 but they pass the nights in holes in 

 the snow. When pursued by sports- 

 men or birds of prey they dive in the 

 loose snow and work their way beneath 

 its surface. 



Nests of this species have been found 

 in the Anderson River region early in 

 June and as late as June 24. Others 

 have been found on the banks of the 

 Swan River as late as June 27. One 

 nest was observed July 10 which con- 

 tained ten perfectly fresh eggs, and 

 another set of eggs was examined July 

 22, the contents of which were slightly 

 developed. The nests were mere de- 

 pressions in the ground, lined with 

 leaves, hay, and a few feathers from 

 the birds themselves. These birds 

 often occupy the same nest in succes- 

 sive seasons. Ten eggs are usually 

 laid, though the female is said to lay 

 as many as sixteen. The eggs have 



a ground color varying from yellowish 

 buff to deep chestnut-brown, more or 

 less sprinkled, speckled, spotted, or 

 marbled with rich brown or black. 

 The average size is 1.78 by 1.25. 



Hallock says that the various species 

 of ptarmigan are all Alpine birds, and 

 are only found in the North and on the 

 highest mountain ranges. They are 

 to be distinguished from all other 

 members of the grouse family by the 

 dense feathering of the tarsus and toes, 

 by turning white in winter and by the 

 -possession of only fourteen tail feath- 

 ers. The bill is very stout and the 

 tail always black. The length of the 

 ptarmigan is about sixteen inches. It 

 is a most delicious article of food, 

 whether roasted, stewed, or in white 

 soups. It is said that visitors to New- 

 foundland assert that the flavor of a 

 plump partridge, well cooked, is un- 

 surpassed in richness and delicacy. A 

 brace of them in season weigh from 

 three to three and a half pounds. On 

 the first of September they are in 

 prime condition, after feeding on the 

 wild partridge berry and cranberry, 

 their favorite food. 



When on the wing it is said the scar- 

 let tips over the eyes of the male bird 

 glisten like rubies. The cock exposes 

 himself fearlessly, when in danger, to 

 save the lives of his offspring. He 

 tumbles along the ground a few yards 

 in advance of the dogs, rolling there 

 in order to decoy the sportsman from 

 the brood which the hen is anxiousi}' 

 calling into the thicket. No more 

 touching instance of paternal affection 

 could be witnessed, or more touching 

 proof among the lower creation of 

 self-sacrifice, prompted by love. The 

 poor, feeble bird would almost attack 

 dogs and men in his efforts to save his 

 children. 



At times, in some districts, the 

 ptarmigan is so tame that it can be 

 killed with a stick, and at others so 

 wild that it will not allow the sports- 

 man to approach within gun shot. 



