The Nesting Habits of the White-tailed Ptarmigan 119 



In 1892, learning that a photograph of this bird on its nest was in de- 

 mand, I spent another month in the search. Only old nests were found. 

 One of these was under some rocks but on the grass. It was in one of the 

 places where the sun melted the snow of^, while the rock kept it from falling 

 there. The search was continued one month every year, but no nests 

 containing eggs were found till 1901. 



At that time I was carrying a small camera and taking photographs of 

 all kinds of nests that came in my way while looking for Ptarmigan. I had 



WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN ON NEST 



Started south from Echo Lake, through the timber, toward the top of the 

 mountain. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen carrying moss and its nest 

 discovered and tree marked. 



On reaching timber-line a Junco was seen building, and a search was 

 made for a loose stone to mark the spot for a photograph when the set was 

 complete. In the search I was just about to put my hand on a Ptarmi- 

 gan when I saw what it was. I then made two exposures with the small 

 camera and left the camera on top of a large rock to mark the spot, the 

 nest being three steps and one foot due south from the mark. I went to the 

 cabin at the lake and got the large camera and tripod. When I returned I 

 took three rather shorter steps, as I supposed, and looked for the bird or its 



