AMERICAN PTARMIGAN. 121 



neck, and back, are several new feathers which are broadly barred with 

 orange-yellow and dark brown. The feathers in the loral space are black 

 only at the base. The shafts of the six outer quills are brownish-black, and 

 all the tail-feathers, the two middle excepted, are greyish-black, with a 

 terminal narrow band of white. 



Length to end of tail 14 inches; bill along the ridge T 5 2, along the edge of 

 lower mandible T \; wing from flexure S; tail 4^; tarsus lf^; middle toe 1, 

 its claw 3%. 



The bill seems to be narrower than it generally is in the Rock Grouse, 

 but the description and dimensions of this bird are scarcely different from 

 those of an individual of that species in the same state of plumage. 



A specimen in the Museum of the Andersonian Institution, marked 

 "Lagopus vulgaris, Ptarmigan, Melville's Island," is a male in winter 

 plumage. The bill is brownish-black, as are the claws. A black band 

 extends from the bill to the eye and behind it. The general colour of the 

 plumage is pure white, as are the two middle tail-feathers, the rest greyish- 

 black, narrowly tipped with white. The third quill is longest, two-twelfths 

 longer than the second, which exceeds the first by an inch and five-eighths. 



Length to end of tail 14^ inches; bill along the ridge \\; wing from 

 carpus 8 T 2 2; tail 5; tarsus 1-^f ; middle toe and claw l-j^. 



Another specimen marked "Lagopus vulgaris, Ptarmigan, Melville's 

 Island," is in summer plumage. The general colour of the upper parts, fore 

 neck, and sides, is reddish-yellow, finely undulated transversely with black- 

 ish-brown and greyish-white; the bars on the head and neck larger. The 

 middle tail-feathers are similar to those of the back; the rest brownish-black, 

 tipped with white. There is little white on the lower parts, and that only 

 in patches. The greyish-white undulations in this individual tend to approxi- 

 mate its colouring to that of some specimens of the Scottish Ptarmigan, but 

 still the prevailing tint is not grey, but brownish-yellow. 



Bill ^f of an inch long; wing from flexure 8; tail 5; tarsus l^f . 



A specimen marked "Ptarmigan, Melville Island, Aug. 15, 1820," is a 

 young bird, marked like the old, but with the bands larger. The fore part 

 of the wings, the primaries, the secondary coverts, and the abdomen, are 

 white. 



Vol. V, 17 



