LAND BIRDS. 229 
of their shanties. One woman whose husband was the superintendent 
of a lumber camp described it as “a large white dove with legs like those 
of a Brahma chicken.” 
Mcllwraith states that “C. J. Bampton, Registrar of the District of 
Algoma, mentions the Willow Ptarmigan as a rare winter visitor at Sault 
Ste. Marie. Their southern migrations depend to some extent on the 
peculiarities of the season, but usually they are common winter visitors 
throughout Manitoba and the northwest” (Birds of Ontario, 1894, 176). 
In Kumlien and Hollister’s “Birds of Wisconsin,” page 57, we read: ‘“Ex- 
ceedingly rare straggler from the north. Two specimens captured in a 
trap at Racine in December, 1846, by Dr. P. R. Hoy. It is certain that 
the Ptarmigan occurs as a rare winter visitor in the Northern Peninsula 
of Michigan, and formerly at least reached Wisconsin during the severest 
weather.”” Dr. 8. Kneeland says: “White Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus? 
Leach. There is a White Grouse in this region, but whether it is the L. 
mutus, albus, or leucurus, I cannot positively say” (Birds of Keweenaw 
Point, Lake Superior, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VI, 1859, 237). 
In view of the above facts it seems perfectly clear that the Willow 
Ptarmigan formerly appeared, at least occasionally, at several of the north- 
ernmost points in the state. Its natural habitat is far to the north, but 
during the winter it collects in large “packs” and moves southward, often 
several hundred miles, and doubtless under certain conditions these migra- 
tions are extended so far that some individuals enter our territory. 
According to L. M. Turner, it is abundant in the Anderson River region 
of Arctic America, where it nests on the ground, laying, early in June, 
from 7 to 11 eggs, which are cream-color to buff, heavily and thickly marked 
with brown. The period of incubation is about 17 days. According to 
Bendire its principal food is buds and leaves of birch and willow, together 
with berries and insects. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult in winter: Plumage entirely snow white except the tail and usually the shafts 
of the outer primaries, which are black. All the tail-feathers are deep black, narrowly 
tipped with pure white, and the white upper tail-coverts completely conceal the black 
when the tail is closed. Bill black; iris brown; tarsi and toes heavily covered with fine 
hair-like feathers; even the nails white in midwinter. In summer plumage [never seen 
in Michigan] the male has the upper parts barred with brown and black; the head, neck, 
and most of lower parts deep cinnamon-rufous, uniform on throat, fore-neck and chest, 
barred with black on sides, flanks and under tail-coverts; primaries and outermost wing- 
coverts white. The female in summer has the primaries and outer wing-coverts white 
as in the male, but lacks the deep cinnamon-rufous of head, neck and lower parts, being 
coarsely and irregularly barred and spotted with buff and black above, and with black 
and buffy white below (Ridgway). ; 
Length 14 to 17 inches; wing 7 to 7.50; tail about 5. 
125. Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americanus americanus (feich.). (305) 
Synonyms: Prairie Hen, Pinnated Grouse.—Cupidonia americana, Reich., 1852. 
—Cupidonia cupido, Baird, 1858.—Cupidonia cupido var. cupido, B. B. & R., 1875. 
Plate XIV and Figure 68. 
A much heavier bird than the Ruffed Grouse, with much shorter tail 
(only four inches), and with a’tuft of about sixteen long, narrow feathers 
on each side of the neck overlying a patch of bare, red or yellow skin. It 
