190S.] 



BIKDS. 



343 



{Yaccinium uliginosiim) and crowberrv {Em pet rum nigrum). Sev 

 eral broods and small companies were seen September 3 and 4, 

 and a number were collected, including old and young birds of both 

 sexes. The crops of two adult males killed September 3 contained 

 mushrooms (95 per cent), a few leaves of dwarf willow {Salix 

 reticulata), and fruit of Andromeda polifolia. Their stomachs 

 were filled with the seeds of Empetrum nigrum, and the linings and 

 to some extent the muscular tissue of the gizzards were stained with 

 the purple juice of this fruit. Among the contents of the crops of 

 other individuals taken on these dates were found the tops and seeds 

 of grass, seeds of Hedysarum americanum. and berries of alpine bear- 

 berry {Mairania alpina). The old birds at this date had acquired 

 many of the feathers of the winter plumage, and the young were 

 just beginning to show the same change. These feathers, especially 

 when first acquired, show a delicate pink tinge, like the breast feath- 

 ers of certain gulls. The birds undoubtedly breed all along this part 

 of the shore in considerable numbers, and were usually in small com- 

 panies, evidently family groups, though a large flock was seen near 

 Mc Vicar Bay September 0. One taken near the same place Septem- 

 ber 10 had been eating the leaves of Betula nana^ Salix reticulata, and 

 a vetch, and the berries of Empetrum and Vitisidcea. A few in- 

 dividuals were seen to the westward of McYicar Bay September 

 10, 11, and 12, and a single adult bird showing much white was seen 

 at Fort Franklin September 22. A few seen in the possession of 

 Indians at the same place, Sej^tember 28. had nearly completed the 

 change to the winter plumage. AMiile ascending the Mackenzie a 

 few miles above Fort Xorman, October 2, I noted two in complete 

 winter plumage ; and I saAv another near Gravel Eiver October 5 ; 

 near Roche Trempe-l'eati October 8; and a short distance below Fort 

 Simpson October 20. One that was pursued by a goshawk flew high 

 and straight out over the river, and soon distanced its pursuer, which 

 gave up the chase. The ptarmigan then descended nearly to the 

 surface of the river and regained the shore by a long, circuitous 

 flight. 



During the winter of 1903-4, the willow ptarmigan was not com- 

 mon in the vicinity of Fort Simpson, but occasionally was observed 

 in twos and threes, and a number were collected. Their crops inva- 

 riably contained buds and twigs of willows, mainly Salix hehhiana^ 

 usually to the exclusion of other food, though in one instance a few 

 buds of Popidus halsamifera were found. The last ptarmigan ob- 

 served, still in complete winter plumage, was taken March 12. 



T\Tiile at Fort McPherson I was informed that these birds breed 

 among the mountains a few miles to the westward. J. W. Mill 

 informs me that on one occasion late in September some years ago, 

 while the brigade of York boats was traversing Great Slave Lake, 



