it, and found it again on the elevated portions of the large Schantar Island. On the Tugur river 

 it was numerous. 



In the Nearctic region it is found throughout Arctic North America and in Newfoundland, 

 but rarely occurs within the limits of the United States territory. Audubon states that he had 

 the skins of Willow-Grouse which had been shot near Lake Michigan ; but there do not appear 

 to be any specimens preserved which have been obtained in the United States. Sir John 

 Richardson (Faun. Bor.-Am. p. 351) says that it " inhabits the fur-countries from the fiftieth to 

 the seventieth parallel of latitude, within which limits it is partially migratory — breeding in the 

 valleys of the Rocky Mountains, the barren grounds, and Arctic coasts, collecting in flocks on 

 the approach of winter, and returning southward as the severity of the weather increases — con- 

 siderable bodies, however, remaining in the woody tracts as far north as latitude 67°, even in the 

 coldest winters." On the west side of the continent Messrs. Dall and Bannister obtained it at 

 Sitka ; and Bischoff got one at Kadiak. Mr. Dall writes that it is abundant from Fort Yukon 

 to the sea; and Mr. Bannister says that it is " common on the island and the adjoining mainland 

 during the greater part of the year, but especially abundant in the spring." The former 

 gentleman writes as follows : — " As soon as the ground is well covered with snow, these birds 

 appear on the river, where they may generally be found in coveys, among the willow thickets. 

 They are moderately shy, and on alarm fly immediately, but without much noise. 



" They make regular paths along the banks, among the willows, on which they always run ; 

 and the Indians set a small barrier of brush on each side of this path and a snare directly across 

 it, and catch them by hundreds in this manner, though the vigilant Ravens and Foxes are ever 

 on the watch to devour the bird as soon as snared. They are abundant in the fall and mid- 

 winter. In February they gather in immense flocks, and go nobody knows where. About the 

 middle of March they return as suddenly, and remain a few weeks, when they go altogether to 

 the mountains or open country, where they pair and breed. These facts have been known to 

 me from observations for two years ; and the Russians and Indians bear witness that it is so every 

 year. In 1867 they left about February 15th, and came back about April 1st, leaving for the 

 mountains about May 3rd. In 1868 they left about February 10th, and came back March 21st, 

 leaving for the mountains April 28th, going and coming in great flocks, like a snow squall." 

 Captain Blakiston writes (Ibis, 1863, p. 127) that it ranges across the interior of North America 

 " from Hudson's Bay to near the Rocky Mountains. I obtained a chance bird (Ibis, vol. iv. p. 8) 

 near Fort Carlton ; but it is not every winter that they migrate so far south on the Upper Saskat- 

 chewan. Nearer Lake Winipeg, at Fort Cumberland and to the eastward, they are common 

 every winter ; and numbers of specimens are received from the shores of Hudson's Bay, where 

 it is in considerable request as an article of food in winter. Mr. Ross mentions this species as 

 common on the Mackenzie." 



In its habits the Willow-Grouse closely assimilates to our common Scotch Red Grouse, to 

 which species it is so closely allied that some naturalists look on these two birds as merely forms 

 or races of the same species ; but this view of the case is one I cannot in the least indorse. I 

 have often seen and shot the present species in Northern Sweden and Finland; and when 

 travelling up the coast in the latter country in the early spring, just as the snow was thawing 

 and the roads becoming impassable with a sledge, I often scared up Willow-Grouse by the road- 



