GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 



304. White-tailed Ptarmigan. Lagopus leucurus leucurus. 



Range. — Higher ranges of the Rocky Mountains, from New Mexico nortli to 

 Alaslfa. 



Ptarmigan are remarkable birds in that they are in an almost continual state 

 of molting, nearly every month in the year showing them in different stages of 

 plumage, ranging from the snow-white winter dress to the summer one in which 

 reddish-brown prevails on Willow Ptarmigan and a black and gray barred effect 

 predominates on the other species. Notice that they are feathered to the toes. 

 in winter the feathers on the toes growing dense and hair-like, not only protect- 

 ing the toes from the cold but making excellent snowshoes which enable them 

 to walk with impunity over the lightest snow. 



Ptarmigan form the staple article of diet for northern foxes, and were it not 

 for the fact that their plumage changes to correspond to tlie appearance of the 

 ground at the various seasons they would fare hardly indeed. 



In spring the little red combs above the eyes of the niales are swollen and 

 conspicuous. At this season they strut and perform curious antics, such as all 

 Grouse are noted for. 



This species differs from any of the preceding in having' at all seasons of the 

 year, a white tail; it is also somewhat smaller than the Rock Ptarmigan. They 

 nest abundantantly near the summits of the ranges in Colorado, making their 

 nests among the rocks, and generally lining them with a iew grasses. During 

 June, they lay from six to twelve eggs having a creamy background, speckled 

 and blotched with chestnut brown. Size 1.70 x 1.15. 



304a. Kenai White-tailed Ptarmigan. Lagopus leucurus peninsularis. 



Range. — Kenai Peninsular, Alaska. A similar but paler- (in summer) variety 

 of the preceding. The nesting habits or eggs will not differ. 



305. Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americanus americanus. 



Range. — The prairies, chiefly west of the Mississippi; north to Manitoba, east 

 to Ohio, and west to Colorado. 



This familiar game bird of the west is about IS inches in length, brownish 

 above and grayish below, with bars of brownish black both above and below. 

 In the place of the ruffs of the Ruffled Grouse, are long" tufts of rounded or 

 square ended feathers, and beneath these a peculiar sac, 'Bright orange in the 



Olive buff 



185 



