260 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



274. Aegialitis semipalmata Bonap. Semipalmated Plover. 



Three specimens, one $, one ?, one ?; Chippewyan, June 2- 

 12. Not common. 



298. Dendragapus canadensis (Linn.). Canada Grouse. 



Mes-tik-o-pen-e-o, C. 

 Ten specimens; Grand Rapids, two $, seven juv.; September 

 5-December 3; Chippewyan, one ?; May 29. Common at 

 Grand Rapids. 



300A. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linn.). 



Pa-pas-ku, C. Canadian Ruffed Grouse. 

 Eight specimens; Grand Rapids, five 5, one ?, two — ; Sep- 

 tember 10-December 29; Chippewyan, May 18. During our 

 boat voyage down the Athabasca, we heard the drumming of 

 these birds at all hours of the night. 



300B. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (Dougl.) Gray. 



Ruffed Grouse. 

 One specimen, $; Crow Nest Pass, April 12. 



301. Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). Willow Ptarmigan. 



Wa-pen-e-o, C. 



Twenty-two specimens; fifteen from Grand Rapids, two 3, 

 nine 9, four — ; November 12-February 8; seven from Rae, 

 four 3, three $; October 2-May 7. The ptarmigan made their 

 appearance at Grand Rapids on the 12th of November in 1892. 

 The Indians brought the first specimen to me, but it was so 

 torn by No. 1 shot and the beautiful plumage so covered with 

 blood that it was almost impossible to make a good skin of it. 



The ptarmigan were not abundant that season. I never 

 secured more than two or three during a day's hunt that could 

 be saved as specimens so easily did their immaculate plumage 

 become stained when even the smallest shot was used. They 

 frequented the sandy dikes of the lake shore where they fed 

 upon the willow buds. They were not easily distinguishable 

 at a little distance from the balls of snow which were common 

 in the willow tops. In flight they keep so near the surface of 

 the snow that wing shots are rather difficult unless they pass 

 before a dark background of pines. 



