588 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS — GALLINM—ALECTOBOPOBES. 



the same individuals ; and birds taken at different dates in the summer, in the same locality, 

 may differ from one another more than specimens from different regions, representing several 

 alleged varieties, are always found to do. The American bird, in 

 fact, is scarcely distinguishable from the European L. mutus or alpimcs. 

 The Greenland bird has been called L. remha/rdti by Brehm. That 

 of the Aleutian Islands, L. mutus atkensis, Turner. The latter is 

 said to have the bill and clavrs about 0.10 longer than usual. 

 570. Ij. leucu'rus. (Gr. Xcvkos, leucos, white ; oupd, oura, taU. Pig. 405.) 

 White-tailed Ptakmigan. Eocky Mountain Snow^ Grouse. 

 ^ 9 , in winter : Entirely snow-white ; bill black, rather slender, and 

 general size and proportions nearly as in L. mpestris. ,J 9 , in sum- 

 mer: Tail, most of the wing, and lower parts 

 from the breast, remaining white ; rest of the 

 plumage minutely mai-ked with black, white, 

 and tawny or grayish-brown, varying in pre- 

 cise character almost with every specimen; but 

 there is no difficulty in recognizing this white- 

 tailed species, of alpine distribution in West- 

 em N. A. from the Arctic regions to New 

 Mexico (lat. 37°). In summer, inhabits the 

 mountain ranges from timber-line to the high- 

 est peaks, in winter ranging lower dovm. 

 Eggs very different from the heavily-painted 

 ones of L. albus, of dull creamy complexion, 

 minutely dotted over the whole surface with 

 burnt-sienna, few of the markings exceeding 

 a pin's head in size, and not thick enough 

 to obscure the ground-color ; shape purely 

 ovoidal, greatest diameter near the middle ; size 1.70 XIM; number variable, about a dozen, 



Fig. 405. —White-tailed Ptarmigan; upper, in sum- 

 mer ; lower, in winter. (From Hayden.) 



53. Subfamily ODONTOPHORIN/E : American Partridges and Quails. 



Head completely feathered, and usually crested, 

 the crest fi-equently assuming a remarkable shape. 

 Nasal fossae not fiUed vrith feathers, the nostrils 

 covered with a naked scale. Tarsi and toes naked, 

 the latter scarcely or not fringed, the former scu- 

 tellate. Size smaller than in TetraonimcB: 



Our Partridges may be distinguished, among 

 American OalUnce, by the foregoing characters, but 

 not from those of the Old World ; and it is highly 

 improbable that, as a group, they are separable from 

 all the forms of the latter by any decided peculiari- 

 ties. The principal supposed character, namely, a 

 toothing of the under mandible, is very faintly 

 indicated in some forms, and entirely wanting in 

 Fio. 406. -European Partridge. (From Dixon.) others. Pending final issue, however, it is expe- 

 dient to recognize the group, so strictly limited geographically, if not othervidse. Several 

 beautiful and important genera occur within our limits, but these Partridges are most numerous 

 in species in Central and South America. Orfowfop^wrMS is the leading genus, with perhaps 

 IB species; Ewpsydhortyx and Bendrortyx are other extra-limital forms; and in all, some 



