( 483 ) 
ROCK GROUS. 
TETRAO RUPESTRIS, GMEL. 
PLATE CCCLXVIII. Mate anp Frmate. 
Wuitst at Labrador, I was informed by Mr Jones, of whom I have 
made mention on several occasions, that a smaller species of Ptarmigan 
than that called the Willow Grous, Tetrao Saliceti, was abundant on all 
the hills around Bras d’Or, during the winter, when he and his son usually 
killed a great number, which they salted and otherwise preserved ; and 
that in the beginning of summer they removed from the coast into the 
interior of the country, where they bred in open grounds, never, like 
the Willow Grous, retreating to the wooded parts. They seldom ap- 
pear at Bras d’Or until the last of the Wild Geese have passed over, or 
before the cold has become intense, and the plains deeply covered with 
snow. While about his house, they repair to the most elevated hill- 
tops, from which the violence of the winds has removed the snow. 
There they feed on the mosses and lichens attached to the rocks, as well 
as on the twigs and grasses scantily found in such places at that season. 
They keep in great packs, and when disturbed are apt to fly to a con- 
siderable distance, shifting from one hill to another often half a mile 
off. 
Not having seen this species alive, and my drawing having been 
taken from specimens kindly presented to me by my friend Captain 
James Ross, R. N., I cannot do better than present you here with the 
observations of Dr Ricnarvson, as recorded in the Fauna Boreali- 
Americana. ‘“ Hutcnins reports that the Rock Grous is numerous at 
the two extremities of Hudson’s Bay, but does not appear at the middle 
settlements (York and Severn Factories), except in very severe seasons, 
when the Willow Grous are searee, and Captain Sabine informs us 
that they abound on Melville Peninsula, Lat. 74° to 75°, in the sum- 
mer. It arrived there in its snow-white dress, on the 12th of May 
1820; at the end of that month the females began to assume their colour- 
ed plumage, which was complete by the first week in June, the change 
at the latter period being only in its commencement with the males. 
Some of the males were killed as late as the middle of June in their 
