216 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
urally first directed our search to the sloping hillsides from which the snow had 
vanished. The ground here was comparatively dry and well covered in places 
with large and small boulders, and with better grass and vegetable covering for 
nest sites. 
The first day we saw seven ptarmigan, three pairs and a single cock. We 
searched diligently for their nests until about three p. m., when we repaired 
to a large pile of jagged rocks and boulders standing out in the open ground, 
altitude about 11,700 feet, (see fig. 71), where on two previous occasions my 
assistants had seen a pair of Brown-capped Rosy Finches ( Leucosticte australis) 
and had spent an hour or two each time in unsuccessful waiting, watching and 
searching for their nest. Finding the male bird present and the female shortly 
appearing, I decided to make another thorough search, which we did, scattering 
Fig. 72. Male White-tailed Ptarmigan photographed near the 
nest, June 21, 1915. 
our forces systematically, and as thoroughly as possible investigating the open- 
ings, with flash-lights and otherwise, for a couple of hours, but with no better 
results. 
On our arrival there we noticed a pair of ptarmigan not over forty to fifty 
yards from us in the open, paddling around in the wet sloppy grass and water, 
and I told my associates to keep an occasional eye on them while we completed 
our leucosticte search. This being finished we turned our attention to the 
ptarmigan, which had not moved over fifty feet during the two hours, but only 
the cock was in sight. We all scattered out in search for the hen, devoting our 
attention mostly to the adjacent comparatively dry spots. We knew she had 
not flown and yet we were unable to locate her. This was aggravating, and we 
