GROUSE, PTARMIGANS, ETC.: PTARMIGAN 
203 
time the birds were undoubtedly common at this the most southern point in their 
range. They were reported as still present in 1903 on the Truchas Peaks, but 
were decidedly rare, for although Truchas was climbed that summer by three 
parties of the Biological Survey none were seen. On the next northern group of 
mountains in the Sangre de Cristo Range—the Taos Mountains our l aos Indian, 
Sun-Elk, reported seeing four at Lake Fork in 1902; an old Taos Indian, Dark 
Photograph by E. R. Warren 
Fig. 34. Mother Ptarmigan Dressed to Protect Her Brood When the Snow is Gone 
Gray Buffalo, reported seeing a few every year near the headwaters of Lucero 
Creek, about 4 miles south of Twining; a small flock was found on January 24,1904 
at 12,500 feet, far above timberline (Surber); and although the peaks were hunted 
over unsuccessfully four times, finally, on July 23, three were seen and on ® 8 
by Sun-Elk at about 13,000 feet; another was shot by him August 6, at about 13,400 
feet, on the highest peak between Wheeler Peak and South Fork, hour ot iers 
were reported killed on the highest peak of the Culebra Mountains—Costilla 
Peak—the latter part of August, and on August 20 at about 13,200 anc *, ee , 
piles of winter sign were seen—as much as two quarts in one place. - passing 
hunter said he had seen Ptarmigan there, usually in small flocks but sometimes as 
many as 50 together (Bailey). [In 1917 a flock was seen at Gold Ilil nort i o aos, 
and there were supposed to be several flocks on the peaks at the cac o t u ecos 
(Leopold, 1919). In July, 1919, an especial effort was made to locate them on ecos 
Baldy and the Truchas Peaks, but without success, and no recent records were 
reported; but in 1924, on June 19, a lone bird was seen near timberhne on the east 
slope of Wheeler Peak, Colfax County, at about 12,500 feet, and it wast repor te ( 
that some were seen from time to time on Gold Hill, a few miles north of Wheeler 
Peak. In 1920, it was found that they had been practically exterminated in tha 
