24 



RECREATION. 



most interesting game birds in this country. 

 In April, when the snow begins to melt, a 

 change is noticed in the pure white of the 

 winter plumage and brown feathers begin 

 to appear about the head. During the spring 

 and early summer the brown gradually 

 grows, and by the ist of August a com- 

 plete metamorphosis has taken place. The 

 bird is then c'.ad in delicately penciled 

 shades of beautiful brown, and by the ist 

 of September it begins to turn white again. 

 By November ist it is again entirely white, 

 with the exception of its tail, and the feet 

 and legs are completely covered with fine 

 fur-like feathers. The bird is then ready 

 for the most severe Alaskan winter and 

 seems entirely impervious to the arctic 

 blasts. 



It is interesting to note that the change 

 from white to brown begins at the head 

 and goes down and that the change from 

 brown to white begins at the tail and grows 

 upward. At no time when the change is 

 taking place does the ptarmigan exhibit the 

 rough and ragged appearance of moulting, 

 which is common to most other species of 

 birds. When one feather is about to fall 

 from a ptarmigan another is ready to take 

 its place, and the plumage presents a neat, 

 dressy appearance at all times. If, when 

 the bird is ready to nest in spring, the 



ground is still covered with snow the eggs 

 will be found white, but eggs deposited 

 after the snow disappears are of a mottled 

 brown color. Thus the scheme of protec- 

 tive coloration is admirably carried out in 

 nesting as well as in plumage. 



I have captured and domesticated a num- 

 ber of ptarmigan. They have taken kindly 

 to their new homes and have bred well in 

 confinement. I brought several of these 

 birds to the States alive and as far as I 

 know, these are the only specimens thus far 

 imported alive. 



I collected and mounted the specimens 

 illustrated herewith, for the purpose of 

 showing the transition from white to brown 

 and from brown to white. The picture 

 shows the average coloring of plumage that 

 prevails nearly every month in the year. 



The ptarmigan is the. only game bird 

 known that one can eat every day in the 

 year without tiring of it. Perhaps the 

 vigorous appetite developed by the strenu- 

 ous Alaskan life may account for this fact. 

 However, I should not wish anyone to think 

 I have eaten these birds every day or that 

 I would approve of such a course, for no 

 one realizes more thoroughly than I the ne- 

 cessity of protecting our Alaskan birds and 

 animals. 



A. H. Dunham, Nome, Alaska. 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY B T. BO cS. 



CAUGHT ONCE MORE. 



Winner of 22nd Prize in Recreation's 8th An- 

 nual Photo Competition. 



"What is your idea of happiness?" was 

 asked. 



Said the millionaire: 1 I should be happy 

 if I could spend my money where it would 

 be of some real benefit. This, and a good 

 digestion. 



Said the poor man : Happiness is having 

 enough money to spend without anxiety. 



Said the society woman : Happiness is 

 rest. 



Said the washwoman : To be able to 

 dance all night, and lie abed as long as I 

 wanted to the next morning. 



Said the soldier : To live peaceably all 

 the rest of my life. 



The sailor: To feel the solid earth un- 

 der my feet for the rest of my days. 



The artist : To paint a picture to please 

 myself, and not the public. 



The author : To have time enough to 

 think. 



The diplomat : To be myself. 



The journalist : To tell the truth. 



The wise man : To be a fool. 



The fool : To be a wise man. 



—Life. 



