A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LAGOPODES. 87 



1. Lagopus nmta x (Montin) Coll. 



1758. — Tetrao lagopus, Lin., Syst. Nat. 10 ed. p. 159 (part). 



1776. — Tetrao mutus Montin, Physiogr. Sälsk. Handl I (p. 155). 



1807. — Tetrao rupestris Bechst, Gem. Naturg. Deutschi. III p. 1358. 



1817. — Tetrao alpinus Nills., Orn. Sv. I (p. 311). 



1874. ■ — Lagopus alpinus var scandinacica Sundev., Öfr. Sv. Vet. Ac. 



Handl. 1874, n. 3, p. 19. 

 1874. — Lagopus mutus var mutus Ridgw., in B. Br. Ridgw. Birds N. 



Amer. III p. 456 (part). 

 1877. — Lagopus mutus Collett, N. Mag. Naturw. XXIII, p. 163. 



The Scandinavian Ptarmigan may be distinguished fromthe South- 

 European form by being slightly smaller, and by having, on the average, 

 the white at the base of the exterior tailfeathers more developed. The 

 differences in color are slight, but perceptible, especially in the postästival 

 plumage which is purer gray. 2 



This form inhabits the high mountains and northern parts of Nor- 

 way and Sweden, and is said to occur eastwards through southern Sibe- 

 ria in high altitudes (cfr. Saunders, Yarr. Brit. Birds 4 ed. III p. 86). Its oc- 

 curence in Japan as recorded with query by capt. Blakiston (Amend. List 

 B. Jap. 1 884 p. 43) on the authority of Mr. Seerohm's identification (Ibis 

 1 884 p. 35) seems more than doubtful, as the Japanese birds probably 

 belong to a distinct form. In northern Siberia it is replaced by another 

 form, possibly L. rupestris (cfr. Saunders 1. c). 



In the lOth edition of Systema Naturalis Linnens knows but one 

 species of ptarmigan (Tetrao lagopus) the description being equally appli- 

 cable to both the European species, but in Fauna Svecica 2 ed. (1761) 

 and in the 12th edition (1766) he recognizes a ((Alpina varietas minor», 

 thus restrictingT^rao lagopus particularly to the species afterwards known 



1 The grammatical gender of Lagopus is either masculine and both are col- 

 lect. Plinius (X. 68.) uses it as feminine, but most conclusive.is that Biisson, the 

 founder of the modern name follows his exaniple. »Lagopus Briss.» is certainly 

 feminine ! 



2 I use the opportunity for correcting a mistake of Mr. Türner in his va- 

 luable memoir «On Lagopus mutus, Leach, and its allers» (P. U. S. N. M. 1882. 

 pp. ±27 and 282), vvhere Nr. 33546 is given as killed in Norway in July. It is fron) 

 Oberhasli in Switzerland, and killed in June. 



