LAGOPUS EUPESTKIS. 
TETEAO RUPESTRIS. Gmel., Syst. Atit., rol. i., 1788, p. 751.— Lath,, Iiid. Ornith., vol. ii., 1790, p. 640.— Sab., Siipp. Parry, 1st Yoy., pi. cxov.— 
Rich., Appen. Parry, 2cl Yoy., p. 348.— Aud., Oruith. Biog., vol. iv., 1838, p. 483, pi, 368.— Swain, Faiin. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., 1831, 
p. 354, pi. xrv. 
TETEAO LAGOPUS. Temm., Greenl. Birds, Ao. 4, p. 468. 
ATTAGEN RUPESTRIS. Reich., Av. Syst. Nat., 1851, pi. sxiv. 
ROOK GROUSE. Penn., Arct. ZooL, vol. i., p. 364, and vol. ii., p. 312. 
LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS. Leach, Zool. Misc., vol. ii., p. 290.— And., Syu., p. 208.— Id., B. of Amer., vol. v., 1842, p. 122, id. 301.— Gray, Gen. 
of B., vol. iii. — Baird, U. S. P. R. R. Exp. and Snrv., vol. ix., p. 635. — Bon., Geog. and Comp. List Birds, p. 44, No. 290. 
LAGOPUS AMERICANUS. And., Syn., 1839, p. 207.— Id., Birds of Amer., vol. v., 1842, p. 119, pi. 300.— Baird, Birds of N. Amer. 
LAGOPUS ISLANDORUM. Fab., Prod, der Island. Orn., p. 6.— Gray, Gen. of Birds.— Id., Cat. B. Brit. Mus., Pt. Ill, p. 47, 1844. 
TETEAO LAGOPUS ISLANDICUS. Schleg., Rev. Crit. des Ois. d’Eur., p. 76. 
TETRAO ISLANDICUS. Brehm., Enr. vog., vol. ii., p. 448. 
LAGOPUS REINHAEDTII. Brehm. 
LAGOPUS GEAENLANDICUS. Brehm. Yogelfang, p. 264, note. 
This species appear-s to l)o found only in Iceland, Greenland, and the northem portions of the American" continent, and is not, so far as my 
investigations show, an inhabitant of the Old World. 
It is closelv allied to the comipon Ptarmigan ; bnt I have never seen, in any of the specimens of Lagopns Mntus, that I have had the oppor- 
tunity of examining, the peculiar markings and 'coloration -which characterize the present bird. 
Specimens of the Rock Ptarmigan lately received from Arctic America through the collectors of the Smithsonian Institution, in no wise 
differ .from many before me from Greeidand aud Iceland ; while from their larger and differently shaped bills, and the yellowish-brown hue 
of their plumage, they all woidd seem to be entitled to a specific distinction from the Lagopus Mntus. 
I have therefore considered the Lagopu.s Islandicus, Lagopns Reinhardtii, Lagopus Graeulandicns, and Lagopus Americanus as synonyms, 
as the term Rupestris takes precedence of them all. 
The Lagopus Americanus of Audubon majg with some degree of certainty, be considered as the present species ; for although he gives no 
distinctive charactei-s to separate it from either the Lagopus Albus or Lagopus Mutus; yet as he states its total length to be only fourteen 
inches, and says that his specimen was brought from North America, it may reasonably be supposed to be the Lagopus Rupestris in change. 
The Rock Ptarmigan undergo similar changes in their plumage, as is customary with the common Ptarmigan. In winter, with the 
exception of the tail, which is always black, the entire plumage is white, the males being distinguishable from the other sex by a black 
mark through the eye. Heariie says of this species that “ they never frequent the woods or willows, but brave the severest colds 
on the open plains. They always feed on the buds and tops of the dwarf birch, and after this repast generally sit on the high ridges 
of snow, with their heads to windward. They are never caught in nets like the Willow Partridge, and being so much inferior in size, their 
flesh is by no means so good, being black, hard, and bitter. They are in general like the Wood Partridge, either exceeding wild or very tame ; 
aud when in the latter humor I have known one man kill one hundred and twenty in a few hours ; for as they usually keej) in large flocks, the 
sportsman can frequently kill six or eight at a shot. 
“ Like the Willow Partridge, these birds change their plumage in summer to a beautiful speckled brown ; and at that season are so hardy that 
unless shot in the head or vitals, ^hey will fly away with the greatest quantity of shot of any bird I know. They discover great fondness for 
their young, for during the time of incubation they will frequently suffer themselves to be taken by hand off their eggs.” 
The plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. 
