BIRDS. 



139 



SltUTHERX WiTlTE-TAILKD PTAinUOAX : Lflf/OpUS IcUCUVUS Ciltl- 



'pctens. — One of the mowt interesting birds of the world, Avhose 

 Arctic-Alpine hahitat makes its acquaintance impossible for most 

 of us, in Glacier Park is found close to the trails frequented by the 

 tourist, where a half hour's walk from a chalet may afford a study 

 Mdiose intimacy is limited only by the patience of the observer. As 

 I had hunted vainly for ptarmigaii over cloud-swept ridges in New 

 Mexico, it was doubly exciting to be told of a nest on the (iranite 

 Park trail " in the grass near the trail by the first snow bank." 

 When we got there the brood had apparently gone, but as we 

 crossed ywiftcurrent Pass INIr. Bailey pronounced the slopes on the 

 south side " ideal ptarmigan slopes," and so, after our dinner at 



Copyright by E. R. Warnn. Cuurtray of Dinl-Lur,'. 



Fig. 44. — Molher ptarmigan and chicks. 



the chalet, when he returned to cliinlj the peak on the north side of 

 the pass, I accompanied him to make my way up the slopes of the 

 south peak looking for the birds. Skirting an acre of snow, I zig- 

 zagged back and forth over the face of the " ideal ptarmigan slope," 

 open to swift-winged enemies, but by its broken surface and variety 

 of colors affording a safe background for ptarmigan in the mixed sum- 

 2ner plumage. Even the wide ex])anse of slide rock was l)roken 

 by occasional dwarf evergreens and streaks of grass, and many of 

 its red shales were patterned with lemon-yellow or curly-brown 

 lichen covering deep ripple marks. Above the main mass of slide 

 was a wide grassy slope of soft yellowish brown tones that would 

 soon match the brown of the ptarmigan. Above this the narrow 



