ROCK PTARMIGAN. 
123 
along the coast of Hudson’s Bay to latitude 58°, and in severe seasons still 
farther to the southward. It also occurs on the Rocky Mountains as far 
south as latitude 55°. It exists in Greenland, is common in Norway, is 
known in Sweden by the name of Sno Rissa, and is the species most 
frequent in the Museums of France and Italy under the name of Tetrao 
Lagopus. It is not a native of Scotland. The Rock Grouse in its manners 
and mode of living resembles the Willow Grouse, except that it does not 
retire so far into the woody country in winter. Contrary, however, to what 
Hearne says, it is frequent in open woods on the borders of lakes in that 
season, particularly in the 65th parallel of latitude, though perhaps the bulk 
of the species remains on the skirts of the Barren grounds. It hatches in 
June. The ground colour of the egg is, according to Captain Sabine, a pale 
reddish-brown, and is irregularly spotted and blotched with darker brown.” 
Specimens in my possession, coloured as here described, average one inch 
and five-eighths in length, by an inch and an eighth in breadth. 
Tetrao (Lagopus) rupestris, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 354. 
Rock Grouse, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 610. 
Rock Grouse, Tetrao rupestris, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 483. 
Male, 133, wing, 7ff- 
Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Seas. Rocky mountains. Abun- 
dant. Migratory. 
Adult Male in winter. 
Bill short, robust ; upper mandible with the dorsal outline curved, the 
ridge and sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip declinate, thin edged, 
but rounded ; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line 
convex, the back broadly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the 
tip blunt. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by feathers. 
Head small, ovate ; neck of moderate length ; body bulky. Feet of 
ordinary length, robust ; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, the first toe very 
small, the middle toe much longer than the lateral, which are nearly equal, 
the inner being a little longer. Claws slightly arched, depressed, broad, 
with thin edges and rounded at the tip. 
Plumage compact, the feathers generally ovate and rounded ; those on the 
tarsi, toes, and soles oblong, with loose stiffish barbs. Wings rather short, 
concave ; the primaries strong, narrow, tapering, pointed ; the first an inch 
and seven twelfths shorter than the second, which is four twelfths shorter 
than the third, this being the longest, but only exceeding the fourth by a 
twelfth and a half. Tail rather short, nearly even, of sixteen broad feathers 
