104 
63. Arenaria Interpres morinella (Linnaeus), ruddy turnsTone. 
Eskimo: Tellevak. 
This species was comparatively common at Craig harbour, Ellesmere 
island, on August 6, 1923. At the time of a return visit to Craig harbour 
on August 12, the turnstones were even commoner. This was the only 
place the species was observed during 1923. 1 It was not observed in Baffin 
island from 1924 to 1926. 
Hesse (1915, p. 166) reports two of Hantzsch’s specimens from Black- 
lead island under A. interpres. As the specimens are dated August 24 
and 26, 1910, respectively, they were obviously collected by natives during 
Hantzsch’s absence in the interior. The species is not noted in Hantzseh’s 
diary, so it is highly probable he never observed this bird in Baffin island. 
Kumlien, also, while in Cumberland sound, did not observe the species 
which, therefore, is probably extremely rare on the island. 
64. Lagopus lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus), willow ptarmigan. 
Eskimo: Arkagik. 
Under Lagopus albus , Kumlien (1879, pp. 82-83) includes this species 
in his list of Cumberland Sound birds. Writing of L. rupestris he states 
that he secured two specimens of the willow ptarmigan while in Cumber- 
land sound. Though the present writer collected a large series of ptarmigan 
from many, widely separated localities on Baffin island, not a single one of 
this species was taken. 
J. C. Ross (1826, p. 101) states that they were seen at port Bowen 
every month except January during the winter of 1824-25. During the 
winter of 1909-10 Hantzsch (1914, pp. 146-148) reports that they were not 
rare in Cumberland sound. He does not mention the species again until 
under date of September, 1910, he states it was once seen by his Eskimo 
on Koukjuak river and that a little band was later observed at Foxe basin. 
They were seen at intervals all winter at Foxe basin. On January 30, an 
“extraordinarily large band” of ptarmigan was observed by one of Hantzsch’s 
Eskimo north of Koukjuak river. The identification of these birds as 
L. lagopus albus is based by Hesse on four birds collected by Hantzsch 
in Cumberland sound. Hesse (1915, pp. 177-182) agrees with Clark (1910, 
p. 53) and Riley (1911, p. 233) in applying the name Lagopus lagopus 
albus (Gmelin, 1788) to the typical Nearctic form of the willow ptarmigan,, 
restricting Lagopus lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus), Gmelin 1788, to the typical 
Palaearctic form. He discusses the possibility of Baffin Island birds 
possibly belonging to the form Lagopus lagopus ungavus Riley (See Riley, 
1911, p. 233), with range “Ungava and probably the eastern shore of 
Hudson bay south,” but from the measurements of bills of the Baffin 
Island specimens decides that they can not be referred to ungavus. 
65. Lagopus rupestris rupestris (Gmelin). rock ptarmigan. 
Eskimo: Arkagik; NiksartoJc-tuk-tut , according to Hantzsch. 
Ptarmigan were very scarce throughout the eastern Arctic islands 
in 1923. Numerous old signs were seen at Strathcona sound in August, 
but no birds were seen. The same condition held true at Ponds inlet 
where eleven days were spent in late August and early September. Two 
juvenile specimens of rock ptarmigan were obtained, however, from a 
native who had killed the birds locally during our stay. R.C.M. Police 
and Hudson’s Bay Company’s officers unanimously stated that this species, 
•A flock of twelve or fifteen observed at Craig harbour and two specimens in grey plumage taken by R. M. 
Anderson August 9, 1928. Not observed elsewhere on Arctic Expedition of 1928.— R.M.A. 
