SPOTTED GROUSE. 
495 
by Buffon, Forster, and others ; and in their decision Gmelin, 
Latham, and all subsequent writers, have acquiesced. Both 
sexes were tolerably well figured by Buffon, as they had also 
been previously by Edwards; but we feel justified in saying, 
that none of their plates will bear a comparison with the pre- 
- sent. 
The spotted grouse is well characterised by its much round- 
ed tail, of but sixteen broad and rounded feathers, and may be 
at once distinguished from all others by the large and conspi- 
cuous white spots ornamenting the breast, flanks, and under 
America. Mr Douglas hints at his knowledge of other two, hut this was too 
imperfect to offer any detailed description. The species are ; 
Lagopus, Ray, 
1. L. mutuSf Leach. Common ptarmigan. According to Sabine, inhabits 
the island on the south-west side of Baffin’s Bay. Dr Richardson never 
met with it himself in the fur countries, and thinks that the only authen- 
tic specimens from the New World ai’e in the possession of Lord Stanley, 
to whom they were presented by Mr Sabine. 
2. L. saliceti, Swain. Willow grouse. Inhabits the fur countries from 
the 50th to the 70th degs. of latitude, within which limits it is partially 
migratory ; breeds in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, the barren 
grounds, and Arctic coasts. It seems identical with the willow grouse 
of the old continent, which inhabits the greater part of Scandinavia, 
Kamtschatka, Greenland, Iceland, and the valleys of the Alps. 
3. L. rupestris. Rock grouse. Closely allied, and long confused with Z. 
mutus ; inhabits Melville Peninsula, and the barren grounds, and de- 
scends along the coast of Hudson’s Bay, as far as lat. 58 degs. ; found on 
the Rocky Mountains as far south as lat. 55 degs. 
4j. L, leucuruSf Swain. White-tailed gi’ouse. Hyeme albus : cestate va- 
riegatus, rectricibus semper albis. This species is first described and figu- 
red in the Northern Zoology. The specimens were killed on the Rocky 
Mountains, and it is said to inhabit the snowy peaks near the mouth of 
the Columbia. Its summer dress is intermediate between L. mutus and 
rupestris, and it is at once distinguished from all the others, by its smaller 
size, and the pure white colour of the tail at all seasons. — Ed. 
