GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 



301. Willow Ptarmigan. 



Lagopus lagopus lagopus. 



Range. — Arctic regions, in America south nearly 

 to tlie United States border, and casually to 

 Maine. 



Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to 

 the toe nails; they have many changes of plum- 

 age, in winter being nearly pure white, and in 

 summer largely reddish brown or grayish, bar- 

 red with black. 

 In the breeding 

 plumage they 

 have red comb- 

 like wattles over 

 the eye. In other 

 seasons, their 



plumage varies in 

 all degrees be- 

 tween winter and 

 summer. They 

 nest on the 

 ground in hollows 

 among the leaves, 

 lined with a few grasses, and sometimes feathers. 

 They lay from six to sixteen eggs which have a 

 ground color of buff or brownish buff, heavily 

 speckled, blotched and marbled with blackish 

 brown. Size 1.7.5 x 1.25. 



301a. Allkn's 1'tarmigan. 



lAigopus lagopus alleni. 



Range. — Newfoundland. A very similar bird to 

 the preceding; eggs indistinguishable. 



Brciwnish Imff 



^\'i]low Ptarmig"; 

 Rock 



Ptarmigan 



30a. 



Rock Ptarmigan. Lagopvx riippstri.i riipestrii. 



Buff 



Range. — Chiefly in tlie interior of British 

 America, from the southern portions to Alask.'i 

 and the Arctic Ocean. 



A species with a smaller bill and in summer 

 a grayer plumage, more finely barred with 

 black. Its nesting habits are the same as the 

 other species, it nesting on the ground in such 

 localities as would be frequented by the Ruffed 

 Grouse. Its eggs cannot be positively distin- 

 guished from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. 

 Si>.e 1.70 X 1.20, 



183 



