126 WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN. 



Plumage compact, the feathers ovate and rounded; those of the tarsi and 

 toes with loose stiffish filaments. Wings short, concave; primaries strong, 

 narrow, tapering, pointed; the third and fourth longest. Tail rather short, 

 slightly rounded, of sixteen broad feathers. 



Bill greyish-black; superciliary membrane scarlet; claws greyish-yellow, 

 dusky toward the base. The plumage is entirely pure "white. 



Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge ^, along the edge of 

 lower mandible ^ wing from flexure 6|; tail 4; tarsus ly 2 ^; middle toe and 

 claw 1 T 7 2. 



Dr. Richardson's description of the summer plumage is as follows: 



"A summer specimen (lat. 54°). Head and neck shortly barred with 

 blackish-brown and pale wood-brown or brownish-white; the front of the 

 neck paler. Dorsal plumage, tail-coverts, scapulars, tertiaries, and the 

 posterior lesser coverts, blackish-brown, cut about half-way to the shafts by 

 rather coarse ochraceous bars, intermixed with nearly an equal number of 

 feathers, ochraceous throughout and thickly undulated with fine black lines. 

 The breast, belly, and flanks are mostly pale ochre, broadly blotched and 

 barred with blackish-brown, intermixed on the belly with some white 

 feathers, and on the breast with a few of the finely undulated ones. The 

 vent, legs, tail (which is only partially grown), the outer border of the wing, 

 primaries, secondaries, and greater coverts, are white. The toes partially 

 naked, not pectinated; the nails short and much worn." 



