NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
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two weeks old, and was as yet covered with scarcely anything hut down. Its 
color was a dirty yellow ; the few feathers huff, transversely barred with 
brown ; and in size it was about equal to a chicken a week or ten days old. 
The species is invariably known as the “ Spruce Partridge.” 
Lagopus albus (dm.) Aud. — Ptarmigan. “Willow Partridge.” 
Lagopus albus, Aud., Birds Amer. v. 114, pi. 299. Baird, Gen. Rep. 633. 
Great confusion prevails among the North American Ptarmigan, both with 
reference to the number of species to be enumerated, and their relationships 
to those of Europe. This is occasioned partly by the remote and inaccessible 
nature of the regions they inhabit, which cause comparatively few specimens 
to reach the hands of naturalists, and the difficulty of procuring them in sum- 
mer plumage ; since in winter they are almost entirely white, and present few 
distinctive marks beyond those of size and slight differences of proportions. 
By the latest authority on the subject, four species are assigned to North 
America: L. albus And., (the old Tetrao albus of Gmelin,) the largest, en- 
tirely white except the tail feathers, and with a very stout bill ; L. rupestris 
Leach, which is smaller, with a slenderer bill and a black stripe through the 
eye ; L. Americanus Aud., a species doubtfully admitted, coming nearest to 
the albus ; and L. leucurus, a small western species, concerning which there 
has been no difficulty. Two of these species are found in Labrador : the L. 
albus and rupestris, known respectively as the “Willow” and “Rock Par- 
tridge. ’ ’ The distinction between them is always recognized ; and they are so 
named from the fact that the former is confined chiefly to thickly wooded dis- 
tricts, while the latter inhabits more open and barren situations. 
On the 23d of July I came upon a pair of the larger kind, amid tangled 
bushes in a low swampy situation. They were very tame and unsuspecting, 
walking unconcernedly along but a few feet from me, though their being in 
deep moult, and unable to fly, may have been the cause of this remarkable 
familiarity. I am credibly informed, however, that at certain seasons, while 
perched on trees, they can be captured by a noose at the end of a rod or pole. 
Great numbers of these birds are skinned and stuffed by the natives, while in 
winter plumage, and sold for about 25 cents apiece. While being skinned, 
they emit a highly aromatic odor, very similar to that given out by the Spruce 
Partridge. Their flesh is much used as an article of food. 
Lagopus eupestbis Leach. — Rock Ptarmigan. “Rock Partridge.” 
Lagopus rupestris, Aud., Birds Amer. v. 122, pi. 301. Baird, Gen. Rep. 635. 1 
This species also occurs along the coast of Labrador, though, as might be 
expected from the densely wooded nature of the greater part of the country, 
much less abundantly than the preceding. I did not meet with it except in 
the collections of the natives. 
Botaueus lentiginosus Steph.-— Bittern. 
Ardea lentiginosus, Aud., Birds Amer. vi. 94, pi. 365. 
Botaurus lentiginosus , Baird, Gen. Rep. 674. 
The Bittern is the only species of Heron which ventures so far north as 
Labrador, with the exception of the Ardea herodias and Nyctiardea Gardeni , 
which may possibly be found within its limits. The only indications I dis- 
covered of the presence of the Bittern was a wing in the possession of a hunter, 
who, however, did not consider it as a very rare bird. 
Chaeadbius Vieginicus Borck.— Golden Plover. 
Charadrius marmoratus, And., Birds Amer, v. 203, pi. 316. 
Charadrius Virginicus, Cassin, Gen. Rep. 690. 
1861.] 
