80 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and has the same sound as that of the young of the Bob White, Colinus 

 virglnianus. 



"In the young birds just hatched, and up to the age of three weeks, it 

 is difficult, if possible at all, to distinguish them to a certainty from the 

 young of Lagopus lagopus of the same age. They are slightly darker, and 

 the lower parts have a greenish tinge to the down instead of yellow, as in 

 the young of L. lagopus. Although I have preserved a great number of 

 these young birds I would still hesitate to assert to which of the two species 

 they belong. After the age of three weeks they may be easily distinguished 

 by the bill. By the 10th of August the wing quills have begun to show 

 the winter plumage. The first primary is then white and nearly half its 

 normal length, with the second and third showing considerable development. 

 The bird is at this time about the size of a Bob White (Colinus virginianus)." 



The food of Reinhardt's Ptarmigan during the summer consists of insects 

 as well as various leaves and berries, such as those of the crowberry (Em- 

 petmm nigrum), whortleberries, the tender leaves of the dwarf birch and white 

 birch (Betula alpestris) as well as the buds, willow buds, and sorrel. Mr. 

 Ludwig Kumlien shot a specimen near Cumberland Sound, whose crop was 

 crammed full of sphagnum moss. They are usually met with in small coveys 

 from six to ten birds, rarely more. 



But a single brood is reared in a season. The eggs are usually depos- 

 ited during the month of June, and the sets vary from six to fourteen, very 

 rarely more. They are absolutely indistinguishable from those of the Rock 

 Ptarmigan Lagopus rupestris; in fact, the average measurement of thirty- 

 three specimens in the U. S. National Museum collection, from Greenland, 

 corresponds exactly with that of the preceding species, giving an average 

 of 42 by 30 millimetres. The largest egg of the series measures 44 by 32, 

 the smallest 40 by 29 millimetres. The majority of these eggs were collected 

 near Godthaab and Sukkertoppen, Greenland, and are a gift of Governor E. 

 Fencker. 



None are figured, as they are exactly like the eggs of Lagopus rupestris. 



28. Lagopus rupestris nelsoni Stejneger. 



nelson's ptarmigan. 



Lagopus rupestris nelsoni Stejneger, Auk, 1, 1884, 226. 



(B — C — , R — , C — U 3026.) 



Geographical range: Island of Unalaska ana adjacent islands m the Aleutian 

 Chain. 



The types of this comparatively new race were taken by Mr. Nelson, at 

 Unalaska, one of the Aleutian Islands; he reports it as common there, frequent- 

 ing the mountain tops and slopes, and breeding in June. 



