GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 
301. Willow Ptarmigan. 
Lagopus lagopus lagopus. 
Range. — Arctic regions, in America south nearly 
to the United States border, and casually to 
Maine. 
Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to 
the toe nails; they have many changes of plum- 
age, in winter being nearly pure white, and in 
summer largely reddish brown or grayish, bar- 
red with black. 
In the breeding 
plumage they 
have red comb- 
like wattles over 
the eye. In other 
seasons, their 
plumage varies in 
all degrees be- 
tween winter and 
summer. They 
nest on the 
ground in hollows 
among the leaves, 
lined with a few grasses, and sometimes feathers. 
They lay from six to sixteen eggs which have a 
ground color of buff or brownish buff, heavily 
speckled, blotched and marbled with blackish 
brown. Sire 1.75 x 1.25. 
Brownish buff 
301a. Allen’s Ptarmigan. 
Lagopus lagopus alleni. 
Range. — Newfoundland. A very similar bird to 
the preceding; eggs indistinguishable. 
Willow Ptarmigan 
Rock Ptarmigan 
302. Rock Ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris rupestris. 
Buff 
Range. — Chiefly in the interior of British 
America, from the southern portions to Alaska 
and the Arctic Ocean. 
A species with a smaller bill and in summer 
a grayer plumage, more finely barred with 
black. Its nesting habits are the same as the 
other species, it nesting on the ground in such 
localities as would be frequented by the Ruffed 
Grouse. Its eggs cannot be positively distin- 
guished from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. 
Size 1.70 x 1.20. 
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