CHAPTER VIII. 
PTARMIGANS. 
Ptarmigans—Different species—The white-tailed ptarmigan—The willow 
grouse, and the rock, or mountain, ptarmigan—General sketch of 
the white-tailed ptarmigan—Pairing season—The nest and eggs— 
Both parents look after the young—Brave protectors—Very tame 
in summer and wild in winter—Burrow in the snow—Moulting 
season—Are in best condition from September to November—Will 
not lie to a dog in winter--The willow grouse—Its haunts and 
habits—Resembles the Scotch moor-cock—Hue of the plumage in 
winter and summer— Weight of both sexes—-The mating season— 
Nests and eggs—The male assists the female in hatching—A duti- 
ful guardian—The number of eggs a hen can lay in a season—Dif- 
ficulty of detecting the young on the ground—Migratory tours— 
Marital mancuvres—Food—How the birds are trapped—The 
rock, or mountain ptarmigan—Its haunts, weight, size, and color— 
Is partially migratory—Its food—Pack in autumn—General char- 
acter of ptarmigans—The charge used for shooting them—A cam- 
paign among the ptarmigans—Two queer dogs—How to prevent 
spvow-blindness—Majestic mountain scenery—A brood of ptarmi- 
gans—Onur first bag—Snow baths—Croaking voices—A volley and 
its unexpected result—A terrified Indian—A savory dinner—Why 
Indians can eat so much—Strange music—Success of our excur- 
sion. 
There are three recognized species of the genus Lago- 
pus in the northern part of the Continent, namely, the 
white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus), the willow 
grouse (L. albus), and the rock, or mountain ptarmigan 
(ZL. mutus, var. rupestris), which differs only slightly from 
the LZ. mutus of Europe. The former, which is known 
as the white, and the mountain, quail in portions of the 
West, is the species most common in the United States, 
being found on all the elevated chains between the Atlan- 
tic and the Pacific Oceans. It 1s the smallest of 1ts genus, 
and the only one whose tail remains white the year 
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