362 



BIRD-LIFE IN WESTERN CANADA 



Male Ptarmigan 



"As long as he holds his rigid, statu- 

 esque pose, he is simply a lichen-cov- 

 ered rock " 



would permit, but no Ptarm- 

 igan could be found, and if 

 an additional chut had not 

 given a clue they might read- 

 ily have remained unseen. 



With great caution I ad- 

 vanced to within about sixty 

 feet, now for the first time 

 seeing the female, and open- 

 ed fire with a f ourteen-inch 

 lens. Plates were then expos- 

 ed at diminishing distances 

 until I was actually within 

 reach of the birds, which 

 proved to lie tamer than 

 barnyard fowls. The first ev- 

 idence they gave of being- 

 aware of my presence, was to remain perfectly motionless, 

 then, as I made no further advance, the}' attempted to com- 

 bine action with rigidity of pose and were almost successful 

 in achieving this impossible feat. With painful slowness, one 

 foot was placed in advance of the other, at the rate of about 

 three steps to the min- 

 ute. If I drew so near 

 that the birds seemed 

 convinced that they 

 were seen, the male as- 

 sumed a more alert, 

 bantam - like attitude, 

 ducking his upraised 

 head and flirting his tail 

 as though inviting me to 

 conflict. 



The pose of the fe- 

 male was more hen- 

 like, and less aggres- Male ptarmigan Walking in Water 



