_Tetrao rupestris_, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 751 (based on Rock
Grouse of Pennant).—LATHAM, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 312.—SABINE, Supplem.
Parry’s First Voyage, page cxcv.—RICHARDSON, Append. Parry’s Second
Voyage, 348.—AUD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 483, pl. ccclxviii. _Lagopus
rupestris_, LEACH, Zoöl. Misc. II, 290.—BON. List, 1838.—AUD. Syn.
208.—IB. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 122, pl. ccci.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am.
1858, 635.—ELLIOT, Monog. Tetraon. pl.—GRAY, Cat. Brit. Mus. V,
1867, 92.—DALL & BANNISTER, Tr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 287. _Tetrao_
(_Lagopus_) _rupestris_, SWAINS. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 354, pl. lxiv.
_Attagen rupestris_, REICH. Av. Syst. Nat. 1851, page xxix. _Rock
Grouse_, PENNANT, Arctic Zoöl. II, 312. _Lagopus islandorum_, FAB.
Prod. der Island. Orn. page 6.—GRAY, Gen.—IB. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. III,
47, 1844. _Tetrao lagopus islandicus_, SCHLEG. Rev. Crit. des Ois.
d’Eur. p. 76. _Tetrao islandicus_, BREHM, Eur. Vog. II, 448. _Lagopus
reinhardti_, BREHM. _Lagopus groenlandicus_, BREHM, Vögelfang, p.
cclxiv, note. _? Tetrao lagopus_, SABINE, E. Suppl. Parry’s First
Voyage, p. cxcvii.—SABINE, J. Franklin’s Jour. 682.—RICH. App. Parry’s
Second Voyage, 350. _Tetrao_ (_Lagopus_) _mutus_, RICH. F. B. A. II,
1831, 350. _Tetrao mutus_, AUD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 196. _Lagopus
mutus_, GRAY, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 1867, 91 (Ft. Resolution and Ft.
Simpson). _Lagopus americanus_, AUD. Syn. 1839, 207, B. Am. V, 1842,
119, pl. ccc.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 637.
SP. CHAR. Bill slender; distance from the nasal groove to tip (.35)
greater than height at base (.27). In summer the feathers of back black,
banded distinctly with yellowish-brown and tipped with white. In winter
white, the tail black; the male with a black bar from bill through eye.
Size considerably less than that of _L. albus_. Length, about 14.50;
wing, 7.50; tail, 4.50.
_Female_ in summer (44,582, Barren Grounds, June 29, 1864; R.
MacFarlane). Wings (except upper coverts) and legs white; tail (except
intermediæ), black, narrowly tipped with white. Rest of plumage light
ochraceous or buff, some feathers tipped with white, and all with broad
transverse bars of black, this color prevailing on the dorsal region. On
the lower surface the buff bars exceed the black ones in width. Wing,
7.20; tarsus, 1.15; middle toe, .90; bill, .35 by .27.
HAB. Arctic America.
The _L. mutus_ of Europe appears to differ only in its summer and
autumnal plumages from the present form, and is then only distinguished
by the uniformly black feathers on the breast in the former, and the
bluish cast in the latter stage. Those in the winter plumage that we
have examined are absolutely identical in size, proportions, and color
with the American birds.
HABITS. According to Hutchins, this Ptarmigan is numerous at the two
extremes of Hudson’s Bay, but does not appear at the middle settlements
of York and Severn except in very severe seasons, when the Willow Grouse
are scarce; and Captain Sabine informed Richardson that they abounded
on Melville Island, latitude 75°, in the summer. They arrived there in
their snow-white winter dress about the 12th of May. By the end of the
month the females had begun to assume their colored plumage, which was
completed by the first week in June, when the change in the plumage
had only just commenced in the males. Some of the latter were found
as late as the middle of June in their unaltered winter plumage. This
Grouse was also found on the Melville peninsula and the Barren Grounds,
rarely going farther south, even in the winter, than latitude 53° in the
interior, but, on the coast of Hudson’s Bay, descending to latitude 58°,
and in severe seasons still farther to the southward. In its general
manners and mode of living it is said to resemble the _albus_, but does
not retire so far into the wooded country in the winter. At that season
it frequents the more open woods on the borders of lakes, especially in
the 65th parallel, but the bulk of this species remains on the skirts of
the Barren Grounds. They incubate in June.
Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding about Fort Anderson, and
on the Barren Grounds east of the Horton River. They nest, in a
similar manner to _L. albus_, on the ground, placing the materials in
a depression on the ground, and using hay, withered leaves, and a few
feathers, and making a rather loose, ill-arranged nest. This is usually
placed on an open common, sometimes near the banks of a small stream.
They were more early in their breeding than the _albus_, as young
Ptarmigans of a goodly size are mentioned as having been seen June 30.
The eggs ranged from four to eight in number.
The female sits very close, and rather than leave will sometimes suffer
herself to be taken by the hand. In one instance when a nest was
approached, the female crouched as much as possible, in the hope that
she might not be noticed, which would have happened had not one of the
party observed her eye. Her summer plumage was almost exactly of the
same color with the soil, and hardly distinguishable from it. The man
was within three feet, and, making a swoop, caught her on the nest.
Excepting in 1862, Mr. MacFarlane did not meet with any of this species
west of the Swan River, on his various journeys to Franklin Bay. Every
season, almost immediately on leaving the woods fringing Swan River,
birds began to be seen as far as and all along the Arctic coast.
Although constantly found feeding in large numbers on the Barrens,
it was always difficult to find their nests. They were most numerous
between Horton River and Franklin Bay, and were frequently seen standing
singly, or feeding on the ground, or an occasional pair might be seen,
but it was seldom any number were observed in company.
Mr. Dall states that this species was not uncommon in the Romanzoff
Mountains, northwest of Fort Yukon, but did not know of its being found
farther south or west. It was obtained by S. Weston at Fort Yukon, and
among the mountains by Mr. McDougal.
The eggs of this species closely resemble those of _L. albus_, but are
somewhat smaller in size. They measure 1.63 inches in length by 1.18
in breadth, varying slightly in size. Their ground is a deep reddish
cream-color, nearly covered by large blotches of a reddish-chestnut,
giving a beautifully variegated effect to the whole.
Lagopus leucurus, SWAINSON & RICHARDSON.