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LAGOPUS HEMILEUCUEUS. 



(SPITSBERGEN PTARMIGAN.) 



Lagqpus alpinus, var. hyperborea, Sundev. in Gaimard, Voy. en Scand. pi. (1843). 

 Lagopus hyperborea, Malmgr. J. f. O. 1863, p. 371. 

 Lagopus hemileucurus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 354. 

 Lagopus hyperboreus, Elliot, Monogr. Tetraon. pi. 24 (1865). 



Figures notabiles. 

 Gaimard, Voy. en Scandin. pi. — ; Elliot, Monogr. Tetraon. pi. 24. 



6 autumnalis aurato-fulvus, ubique nigro marmoratus vel transfasciatus : pileo distinctius fasciato : ala tota 

 alba, primariarum scapis nigris, tectricibus nonnullis majoribus dorsalibus et secundariis intimis dorso 

 concoloribus : tectricibus supracaudalibus longissimis caudam subsequantibus : Cauda nigra, parte basali 

 et fascia apicali conspicue albis, rectricibus duabus mediis fere omniDo albis, parte mediana, ovali nigra, 

 pennis exterioribus majorem partem pogonii externi late albo marginatis : pileo laterali cum gutture 

 toto et pectore superiore dorso concoloribus, mento et collo laterali vix albicantibus : corpore reliquo 

 subtiis albo, hypochondriarum plumis nonnullis dorso concoloribus sparsim notatis. 



Female in summer plumage. As is tbe case witb all otber Ptarmigans in their summer plumage, the primaries 

 are white ; in this species most of the secondaries and the wing-coverts are also white ; the remainder 

 of the plumage is rayed with black and ochreous yellow, the black predominating on the upper surface, 

 while the feathers of the flanks are beautifully and equally barred with these two colours ; the feet are 

 white, the nails jet-black, and the bill brown. The total length of the bird is about 16 inches, of its 

 wing 8| inches, tail 5|, tarsi If. (/. Gould, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 354.) - 



Male in autumn plumage. Above golden-buff, mottled and barred with black, which colour sometimes takes 

 the character of minute spots, sometimes of transverse bars, some of which are broader than others, and 

 sometimes the black extends over the greater part of the feathers ; on the rump, scapulars, and inter- 

 scapulary region are a few white feathers ; wing-coverts and quills pure white, the shafts of the primaries 

 for the most part black, some of the inner greater coverts and all the innermost secondaries buff, barred 

 with black, like the back ; tail white at the base and tip, black in the centre, the two middle feathers 

 for the most part white, with an irregular oval mark in the centre, and the outside feather broadly edged 

 with white ; cheeks, throat, and upper part of the breast coloured like the back, the feathers on the chin 

 and sides of the neck white at the base, and a white feather appearing here and there on the breast ; 

 rest of the under surface of the body white ; the flanks interspersed with a good many tawny feathers ; 

 bill horn-black, yellowish at the base ; toes yellowish horn-brown. Total length 15"2 inches, culmen 

 0"65, wing 7'6, tail 5 - 7, tarsus 1"1. Another specimen, killed on the same day, is still more advanced 

 into the winter plumage, being almost entirely white, with remains of tawny feathers only on the head, 

 neck, breast, and scapulars, and a few feathers protruding on the flanks and lower part of the back; 

 the entire wing is white. Total length 155 inches, culmen 07, wing 7'6, tail 5'8, tarsus 1*1. 



Winter plumage. White, with perfectly black lores ; besides the two white rectrices there are seven black 



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