136 :JfATUEAL HISTORY COLLECTIOIS^S IN ALASKA. 



but further north the change commences still later, and in Greenland the males arc pure white 

 in the breeding season. 



This species was found sparingly about Cumberland Gulf by Kumlien, and is extremely 

 abundant from Bering Straits across the entire northern portion of America and Gi-eenland. 

 The Scotch Ptarmigan, a near relative of the present bird, is known to breed by the end of March 

 in the lowlands of Scotland, and as late as June among the highlands. In the south of Scot- 

 land the males perch oa knolls during a mild morning, and, rising several feet, drop again, utter- 

 ing a note which has been indicated in syllables as follows : Eck-heJclceJc-icuk-iculc-icuk. This note 

 and habit are identical with those of the Willow Grouse, as observed in Alaska, though more fre- 

 quently the note of the Alaska bird is the one previously indicated. 



Lagopus rxjpestris (Gmel.). Eock Ptarmigan (Esk. Ung d-wik). 



This beautiful Ptarmigan is a common resident of the Alaskan mainlanil, from Bering Straits 

 to the British border on the east, including the entire north and south extent of the mainland. 

 Unlike the common White Ptarmigan, it frequents the summits of the low hills and mountains 

 during the summer season, where it remains until the severe weather of early winter forces it down 

 to the lower elevations and under the shelter of the bush-bordered ravines and furrows marking 

 the slopes. 



On May 10, 1881, while visiting two volcanic hills in the vicinity of Saint Michaels, I sud- 

 denly came aci-oss a pair of these handsome birds, which were still in almost perfect winter plumage, 

 the female having but a very sparse sprinkling of clayey feathers, and the male but three or four 

 dark feathers on the sides of the head. These birds were feeding upon the last year's berries, on 

 the marshy knolls near the end of one of the hills. They allowed me to approach within 20 feet, 

 and paid no attention beyond looking curiously at me as I walked slowly along. The suspicion 

 of the male being slightly excited, he uttered a low, rolling or whirring sound, like that produced 

 by rolling the end of the tongue. The female answered with a low, clear " yopyop,^^ M'ith a peculiar 

 intonation, strikingly like that of the female hen-turkey, except it \vas much lower. When we 

 were about 15 feet from the birds, they stood looking at us for a moment with a pretty air of 

 innocent curiosity, and then, without showing the slightest signs of alarm, arose and flew off to the 

 hill-side, a hundred yards or more away. The comb over the eye of the male stood erect, and was 

 of the same brilliant orange-red as that of the White Ptarmigan; but the outline of the upper 

 border of this comb is cut out in the middle, so that only upon each end does it bear the filamentous 

 prolongation seen bordering that of L. albus. Just as the male alighted upon the hillside, he took 

 a slight upward curve, and then descended to the ground on stiffened wings, very much in the 

 manner that characterizes albus at this season ; at the same time he uttered a loud, rather harsh 

 and guttural series of rolling notes, very much like the peculiar rolling call-note of Bafila acuta. 



During the entire year these birds are resident north at least to Bering Straits, as I obtainea 

 specimens from that vicinity on one of my winter expeditions. In summer it extends still beyond 

 this, to all portions of the country crossed by mountain chains and hills. In autumn, toward 

 the last of October and first of November, this bird unites with the common Ptarmigan ia great 

 flocks, on the northern shore of Norton Sound, and migrates thence across the sound to Stuart's 

 Island, thence reaching the mainland. The birds are frequently seen by the natives while they 

 are passing Egg Island, on their way to the island just mentioned. They are said to commence 

 their fliglit just before dark in the evening, and at this season, as mentioned under the preceding 

 species, many are snared at the head of Norton Bay. In April the birds retura to the north, 

 always traveling in the evening or night,' as they do during their autumnal migrations. 



This Ptarmigan is resident at Point Barrow according to Murdoch but is less common than 

 albus. Mr. Dall mentions its presence in the Gens-dn-large or Eomanzoff Mountains northwest 

 of Fort Yukon in about latitude 68° N. It is also found commonly in the vicinity of Fort Yukon. 

 The Smithsonian Institution has received a large number of these birds from the region border- 

 ing the Arctic shores of the fur countries. On the Arctic coast of British America Mr. Rae 

 killed some Eock Ptarmigans, August 9, which were moulting at that time. They were not shy, and 



