TURNER'S PTARMIGAN. 





mm 



AN inhabitant of the western part of the Aleutian 

 ^ chain, this bird is quite numerous on Atka, Am- 

 chitka, and Attn islands. It was discovered by Mr. 

 Turner, who has furnished all that is known about it. 

 He says that he was struck with its great size, shape of 

 the bill, and length of claws, and it frequents the low- 

 lands and hills of the western islands, and builds its nest 

 among the rank grasses near the beach. This is care- 

 lessly made of dried grass and similar materials, and the 

 eggs, varying in number from eleven to seventeen, are 

 darker in color than those of the Rock Ptarmigan, and 

 slightly smaller than those of the Willow Grouse. In 

 Ir.bits it resembles the first species. On account of 

 the number of foxes on Attn this bird frequents higher 

 elevations than it is accustomed to do on the other 

 islands. The natives assert that this Ptarmigan is also 

 found on Agattu and, on account of the absence of foxes, 

 is quite numerous on that island. 



LA GO PUS RUPESTRIS ATKENSIS. 



Geographical Distribution. — Islands of Atka, Amchitka, Attu 

 and possibly Agattu of the Aleutian Chain. 



Adult Male in Summer. — Head and neck, tawny ochraceous, 

 barred with black, rest of upper parts, dark russet on basal two- 

 thirds of feathers, remainder gray, very finely vermiculated and 

 dotted with black; some small black spots upon the scapulars, 

 but there is a general absence of the black spots upon the back, 

 so conspicuous in L. r. townsendi; upper tail-coverts, like the 

 back; tail, clove brown, feathers tipped with white widest on the 



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