220 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
hurried to get in sight of them again and saw them streaking it out, running 
like a pair of wild turkeys, until seeing him when they took wing. 
The next pair of birds was located by Durand and Barton near Stuart Lake, 
a small artificial reservoir in a canon at the head of a fork of Fall River (alti- 
tude 11,400 feet), on rough rocky ground. This pair we had seen in the same 
place before. 
The following are extracts from Barton’s notes: “Located birds about 2 
p. m. near patch of bushes, and I sat down near by ; they paid no attention ; 
would sit down awhile and then feed, scratching about roots, grass and plants. 
Hen paid little attention, but cock, generally between me and hen, always on 
lookout and occasionally flew short distance, soon returning; both birds would 
at times lie down in puddles of snow water and pant with heat, while I was 
cold. About dusk (8 o’clock) they were more restless. At daylight next morn- 
ing they were where I left them at dusk the night previous. Started feeding 
about 9 o’clock and would feed up to within a few feet of where I lay on rock. 
While eating lunch, and at other times when lying down, threw scraps of bread 
to them, which they would pick up and eat, at times within a few feet of my feet. 
At times cock would reply to calls of another cock on hillside; at other times 
would not answer. Was with them until I had to start for camp, about 4 p. m., 
during which time, since located at noon of day previous, they had moved in 
radius of only a hundred or two feet.” 
A third pair of birds was located by Durand about 2:30 o’clock on a small 
knoll a short distance up the canon above Barton, and I quote from Durand’s 
notes regarding the same : ‘ ‘ After locating birds, having left my blankets and 
outfit with Olson, I went back a mile and a half and got them, returning at 
about 3:30 o’clock. Found the birds just where I left them. Although I was 
chilly, the birds were sitting about panting, occasionally crawling or slowly 
moving about. Toward evening birds began feeding. I had to build a fire to 
keep warm. About 7:45 o’clock (nearly dark) they seemed more restless and 
suddenly started to run (didn’t believe it possible they could run so fast) up 
steep bank of snow, to wall of rocks where they disappeared. Next morning 
they were back to foot of snow bank. Watched them until 4 o’clock p. m. ; be- 
haved same as day before. No nest.” 
On returning to camp we visited the nest discovered Monday with two 
eggs in it, and it now contained four; we also visited the nest found on Wednes- 
day and it now contained seven eggs; both birds being on the nests, they were 
raised by hand sufficiently for the purpose of inspection and then left undis- 
turbed. 
The following day, Friday, we did not visit the ptarmigan ground, but 
went to an opposite ridge at a lower altitude in search of Kinglet, Hermit Thrush 
and other nests located, in course of construction or with incomplete clutches, 
about a week previous, and of such other specimens as we might find. 
The next day, Saturday, we repaired again to the ptarmigan ground, first 
visiting the site of the nest left with the seven eggs in it, only to find the bird 
and eggs gone. I at first charged it up to either a fox or weasel, but upon second 
thought had to abandon that idea, there being about the nest no signs of broken 
eggs, nor parts of egg shells, nor any feathers indicating that the bird had been 
eaten or in a struggle. A further examination disclosed the tracks of two men, 
who had come up the glacier the day previous, leaving the same at an angle head- 
ing directly for the nest, which was not over thirty feet distant from the edge of 
