188 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 217 



Willow ptarmigan are usually near Old Crow in winter, but as 

 the flocks rove about they cannot be called settled residents. Their 

 annual schedules of movement appear to recur in each locality and 

 so there is a true if relatively short distance migration. 



The race L. I. alascensis in Alaska is distinguishable from L. I. albus 

 by the size and shape of the beak, and our specimens from Old Crow 

 were typical of the Alaskan race. The range of aTbus is reported to 

 extend to northern Yukon (A. O. U., Check-list, 1957), but our speci- 

 mens show that the Alaskan race extends eastward on the Porcupine at 

 least to Old Crow. 



The Indian name for this ptarmigan is Taka. 



Lagopus mutus nelsoni Stejneger 



9 males 



Apr. ll-June 9 



Weight 389-435, 

 average 413 g., 

 coeff. of var. 

 4.3% 



fat (1), medium fat 

 (2), little fat (1), 

 very little fat (3), 

 no fat (2) 



testes 4-18 mm. 



3 females 



Apr. 21-May 25 



weight 405-446, 

 average 425 g. 



medium fat (1), 

 little fat (1), very 

 little fat (1) 



eggs 1.5-23 mm. 



The average weight of male rock ptarmigan at Old Crow was found 

 less than the mean weight (466 grams) in spring of male L. m. nelsoni 

 at Anaktuvuk, but the three females did not differ in weight from 

 those at Anaktuvuk. 



The beautiful faint pink of the white winter feathers appeared often 

 in rock ptarmigan of both sexes at Old Crow as it often appears in 

 willow, rock, and whitetailed ptarmigan of Alaska. 



In the vicinity of Old Crow, rock ptarmigan were seen only on the 

 mountains above tree line at elevations from 2,000 to 4,000 feet, the 

 highest examined. The small tracks and open night-roosting places 

 in the snow were identified by droppings at the edge of the spruce, 

 dwarf birch, and alder at about 1,600 feet elevation on April 8. On 

 April 11, a wild flock of about 50 birds found at 2,400 feet scattered 

 into several groups when pursued. One group which contained about 

 15 birds was approached while feeding at about 2,700 feet. On April 

 29, eight birds were seen in groups of two or three and no flocks were 

 seen then or subsequently. The males were calling and mating was in 

 progress. 



In the breeding season females can often be distinguished by their 

 compressed feathers, which give them a slender appearance as they 

 stand or walk, and by their practice of carrying their head and tail 

 extended nearly horizontally. The males stand straighter and with 

 feathers erected, giving the impression of larger size, although the 

 weight of the two sexes is not different. A trace of dark feathers was 

 appearing on the head of the females and the red eye combs of the 



