General Notes. 
High Plumage in the Ptarmigan. — Early in January, I received a box 
of Grouse in the flesh from Mr. Thomas J. Egan of Halifax, N. S., among 
wliich were a pair of Ptarmigan (^Lagofus lagofus) from Newfoundland. 
One of these, a male, had the shafts of the secondaries black and was 
therefore probably L. iiUeni, but the most striking thing about the 
plumage was the very evident tinge of rose-color, which was deepest on 
the rump and on the sides under the wings. The bird was examined in 
daylight and there was no mistaking its very high coloration. It was 
equallv clear that the color was not adventitious or due to any external 
influence. The shading was so delicate that I felt sure it would fade from 
a skin and so the specimen was not preserved. My attention has again 
been called to the matter, however, by another male L. lagofus, which I 
have recently received from Mr. William Clark of Winnipeg, to whom I 
am indebted for other birds also. This specimen was larger than the 
first and the rosy tint was more intense being especially clear on the 
sides, making the bird by far the handsomest one of its species which I 
have ever seen. Possibly this high plumage may have been recorded by 
others but it is not mentioned by the authorities to whom I have access. — 
Hubert Lyman Clark, Pittsburgh, Pa. April. 18^4 P. 177 
Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. This species, referred to as 
probably common at Point Barrow, does not occur there. 
Asio accipitrinus. Mr. Nelson says, “ On the Alaskan coast of tflie 
Arctfp, it is found nearly if not quite to Point Barrow.” It was not found 
at Poin\ Barrow. 
.lEgialihg semipalmatus. This species was not seen, altbdugh Mr. 
Nelson’s rehqarks would lead to the inference that he saw a./pair there in 
i88i. 
Ereunetes pusJhus. This bird, which is said to breed at Point Bar- 
row, only occurs fn the autumn migrations, when large flocks of the 
young appear amongNhe mudholes atElson Bay, nm'ving southwest along 
the coast. 
Nuraenius hudsonicus.\Referred to as occu/i'ing “ north to the vicin- 
ity of Point Barrow.” We cJM not see it, anu the only species of Curlew 
observed {N. borealis') was rai'Nand irregular. 
Dafila acuta. Referred to as nhsting^' in the greatest abundance .... 
to the farthest northern extreme of^laska in the vicinity of Point Bar- 
row.” We found the bird compaAnyely I'are and none breed. The 
natives say they are abundant inldnd on the rivers. 
Nettion carolinensis. It dp/s not reach^oint Barrow, as Mr. Nelson 
thought might be the case. 
Mergus serrator. Referred to as found “ aloJr" the Alaskan coast of 
the Arctic to Point Bapfow.” We neither saw nor^fotained it. 
The following spepfes, supposed by Mr. Nelson norjo reach Point Bar- 
row, were obtained/by our party. 
Limosa lappmnca novae-zelandiae. A few immature birdVavere obtained 
in the autumuMnigrations. 
Grus can^ensis (— fraterciUus Cass.). These birds were seeh and two 
taken in/june, 1S83. 
Laufpronetta fischeri. This species occurs sparingly with the other 
Eid^'s in the great spring flights, and a few remain on land and undoubt- 
e^y breed, as a female was shot with an egg ready for laying in the,^ 
oviduct, and half-grown young were taken in August, 1SS3. 
Washington, D. C. 
CHANGE OF COLOR IN THE WING-FEATHER.S 
OF THE WILLOW GROUSE. 
BY C. HART MERRIAM, M. D. 
At the last meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union 
Dr. Leonhard Stejneger exhibited the type specimen of ‘A new 
subspecies of Willow Grouse from Newfoundland,’ which he 
named Lagofus alba alleni. Fie characterized it as follows : 
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CP 
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