A History of North American Birds, Land Birds. Volume 3

Summer. Male (43,505, Fort Anderson, September 8; MacFarlane). Head, neck, and jugulum deep cinnamon-rufous; whole upper parts (except wings) paler, more fulvous brown, broadly and closely barred with black. Top of head spotted with black, and the jugulum and neck with scattered bars of the same. Wing, 7.50; bill, .40 from nostril, and .35 deep. Female (53,526, Fort Anderson, June, 1865; MacFarlane). Entire plumage (except wings, tail, and legs) fulvous-buff, heavily spotted and barred above, and regularly barred beneath, with black. Wing, 7.20; bill, .40 by .40.

Winter. Entire plumage, except the tail (which is black with a white tip), immaculate snowy-white; shafts of primaries black. Male (34,968, Northwest R., Labrador; D. Smith). Wing, 7.50; bill, .42 by .45. Female (50,060, Nulato, Lower Yukon, April 12, 1867; W. H. Dall). Wing, 7.50; bill, .42 by .42.

Chick (2,648, Fort Anderson, July, 1864). Prevailing color greenish-buff, tinged with sulphur-yellow on the throat and abdomen, and washed with fulvous on the upper parts. A large oval vertical patch of chestnut-rufous, bordered all round by a black line, which, from the occiput, is continued down the nape in a broad distinct stripe of black. On the upper part of the back this stripe bifurcates, and continues in two broad parallel stripes to the lower part of rump, where they again unite. A black stripe across the wing and one through the eye and auriculars.

Hab. Arctic America from Newfoundland to Sitka.

Lagopus albus.

Habits. Richardson regarded this species as an inhabitant of the fur countries from the 50th to the 70th parallel of latitude, being partially migratory within those limits. It was found to breed among the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, on the barren grounds, and along the Arctic coasts. On the approach of winter it collects in flocks, and retires southward as the severity of the weather increases. They remain, however, in considerable numbers as far north as latitude 67° even in the coldest winters. It was found to be tolerably abundant at the 65th parallel all the year, assembling in vast flocks on the shores of Hudson Bay in the winter time. Mr. Hutchins states that ten thousand of these birds have been captured in a single season at Severn River. Richardson adds that in 1819 these birds made their first appearance at Cumberland House, latitude 54°, in the second week of November, and that they returned to the northward again before the beginning of spring. In the winter they are said to shelter themselves in thickets of willows and dwarf birches, on the banks of marshes and lakes, the buds of the smaller shrubs being the principal part of their food at that season. Denuded sandy spots were their favorite resorts in the daytime, but they passed their nights in holes in the snow. When pursued by sportsmen or birds of prey, they often terminate their flight by hastily diving into the loose snow, working their way beneath its surface with considerable celerity. In thick, windy, or snowy weather they were very shy, perching on the taller willows, where it required a sharp eye to distinguish them from flakes of snow. In the summer season they feed chiefly on the berries of the alpine arbutus and other shrubs and plants, which are laid bare by the thaw, and which do not disappear until they are replaced by a new crop. They incubate about the beginning of June, at which time the females moult. The males assume their red-colored plumage as soon as the rocks and eminences become bare, at which time they are in the habit of standing upon large stones, calling in a loud and croaking voice to their mates, which, still in their white wintry garb, are hidden in the snows below. These birds are more usually in motion in the milder light of night than in the broad glare of day.

Captain Blakiston traced this Grouse across the interior from Hudson’s Bay to near the Rocky Mountains, and obtained a single specimen near Fort Carlton. It does not come down every winter, however, so far south on the Upper Saskatchewan. Near Lake Winnipeg, at Fort Cumberland, and to the eastward, they are common every winter, and numbers are obtained from the shores of Hudson’s Bay. Mr. Ross gives this species as common on the Mackenzie. Mr. Robert MacFarlane found it around Fort Anderson, where, he writes, it was always very numerous in that quarter at all seasons, and generally not difficult of approach. During the breeding-season the males were to be found perched upon trees and stumps in the vicinity of the nest, while the female would rarely leave the latter until almost trodden on. They are also said, by Mr. MacFarlane, to assume their summer plumage earlier than the males, differing in this statement from Dr. Richardson’s. Their nest is always on the ground, and consists only of a few decayed leaves placed in a depression. Sometimes other materials, such as hay, moss, feathers, etc., are found. While incubating, the female occasionally sits so close as to allow herself to be caught, rather than leave the nest.

They begin to nest early in June, varying a little with the season, not commencing so soon where the ground at that period was still covered with snow. Eggs taken from the oviduct were almost invariably pure white in color. In one instance an egg taken from the oviduct of a female, June 5, that had previously deposited eight eggs the same season, was covered with coloring matter or marking so soft as to adhere to the fingers when touched. After the female has once begun to lay, Mr. MacFarlane observed that she deposits one egg each day until the whole number has been reached. This varies from eight to ten.

The males were always observed in the immediate vicinity of the nest, and began to assume their summer moult about the 6th of June, most of their necks at that time being already of a reddish-brown color. The nests were always on the ground, and were mere depressions lined with a few soft materials, generally leaves, occasionally mingled with feathers, hay, etc., the feathers often being their own. The same nest was often made use of in successive seasons. Eggs were found as late as the 24th of June, and the female is supposed to sit about three weeks before hatching. Occasionally eggs were found dropped on the bare ground without any signs of a nest. In one instance the egg was pure white, like one taken from the oviduct. It was found lying on the bare ground, without the least appearance of a nest in its vicinity.

In one instance where a nest was met with, on the banks of Swan River, by Mr. MacFarlane’s party, en route, the female was almost trodden under foot before she fluttered off, when she at once turned about to face her enemies, spreading her wings and ruffling her feathers as if to attack or frighten them away. In another case a nest containing only one fresh egg, in which the female had but just begun to deposit, was found as late as June 25. Other eggs found June 27 contained very large embryos. Another nest, examined a fortnight later (July 10), had in it ten perfectly fresh eggs. Mr. MacFarlane inferred that this nest had been robbed at an early period of the season. This time she apparently made no attempt at another laying.

In several instances where both birds were present near a nest that was taken, the male bird would make his presence known by giving utterance to very peculiar rough notes, indicative of alarm and of distress at the proceedings. In one instance a nest was found in the midst of a clump of very small stunted willows, within thirty feet of the spot where Mr. MacFarlane’s tent was pitched. This was on the 21st of June, but the nest escaped notice until the 22d of July, when the female was almost trodden on as she was sitting on her eggs, where she had probably had her nest during their entire stay. The eggs were warm when taken, and their contents were slightly developed. During the night the male Ptarmigan disturbed the encampment by keeping up a constant utterance of his rough and rather unpleasant notes. In another instance the female fluttered off, calling, and pretending to be badly wounded; while the male bird, in the vicinity, made his near presence known by the loud manner in which he expressed his disapprobation of such proceedings.

In one instance where an Indian had found a nest of this Ptarmigan, which then contained seven eggs, the female was seen, and the notes of the male bird were heard. He placed a snare about the eggs, but on returning to the nest a few hours afterwards, he was surprised to find that six of the eggs had disappeared during his brief absence. He supposed a fox had taken them; but as no egg-shells were left behind, Mr. MacFarlane has no doubt they were removed by the parent birds.

When the young are hatched they follow the parents, both of whom keep about them, and display great courage and devotion whenever there is any occasion, suffering themselves to be very closely approached, and utterly regardless of consequences in their desire to save their young. The latter are very hard to recognize, owing to their close resemblance to the grass, in which they squat, and remain perfectly still.

In September and October of each season these Ptarmigans assemble in large flocks, but during winter seldom more than two or three dozen were ever noticed in single companies. They would often alight and feed in the immediate presence of the men, and would even permit a very near approach. During the winter they were frequently to be met with between Fort Anderson and Fort Good Hope, in especial abundance about the last-mentioned post. As the spring approached, they began to migrate to the north; so that in the summer scarcely a Ptarmigan was to be seen south of Lockhart River, on their usual line of march to that post. In February, 1859, Mr. MacFarlane found them numerous to the very borders of the wooded country, along the banks of the Lower Anderson.

Mr. Donald Gunn states that this Ptarmigan is very seldom to be seen south or west of Lake Winnipeg, but is found in all the country north and east of that lake during the winter season. In the summer they are said to breed around Hudson’s Bay, and during the winter to be found along the whole extent of that bay, especially if the winter is mild. During severe winters they go more inland. The males of this species are said by Mr. Gunn to crow morning and evening in the same manner as the Moor-fowl in Scotland, the tone and notes being very similar. The female is said to lay from ten to sixteen eggs, but the largest number taken by Mr. MacFarlane appears to have been ten. These birds are of great service to the Indians, serving as food when larger game fails; and their feathers are also a considerable article of trade, several hundredweight of them being annually sent to London.

Mr. Dall found this Ptarmigan abundant in Alaska, from Fort Yukon to the sea. In winter they feed exclusively on willow buds, a double-handful having often been found in their crops. As soon as the ground was well covered with snow they appeared on the river in coveys among the willow-thickets. They were rather shy, and on an alarm flew immediately, but without noise. They made regular paths along the banks of the river among the willows, along which they always ran. The Indians took advantage of these to snare them, and caught them by hundreds. They were abundant in the fall and midwinter. In February they gathered in immense flocks, and disappeared, no one could tell where, returning about the middle of March as suddenly as they had gone away, remaining a few weeks, then resorting to the mountains and open country to breed. In 1867 they disappeared February 15 and returned April 1, leaving for the mountains May 3. The following year they left February 10, returned March 21, and left for the mountains April 28, going and coming in large flocks. They begin to moult about the middle of April, the feathers of the head, edges of wings, and upper tail-coverts, changing first. At this time the capillaries in the skin of the abdomen become engorged with serous fluid, and give to the bird a disgusting appearance. Mr. Dall obtained eggs in an open tundra near the mouth of the Yukon in the latter part of June. The female defended her nest bravely, and rather than desert her eggs allowed herself to be torn to pieces by a dog.

Mr. Bannister was also struck with the strong attachment shown to each other by both sexes during the breeding-season. He has known the male bird to sacrifice his own life, rather than desert his wounded mate. He mentions them as common at St. Michaels and the adjoining mainland during the greater part of the year, but especially abundant in the spring, when they are found singly or in pairs all over the country. In the fall and winter they kept more to the thickets of willows. The greater part of them were supposed to have gone into the wooded district of the interior for better shelter and more abundant food.

The eggs of this species vary considerably in length and breadth; they average about 1.85 inches in length and 1.20 in breadth, and are oval in shape, one end a little less obtuse than the other. They are all beautifully variegated and marked with bold confluent blotches of a dark claret color, upon a ground of a deep cream tinged with a reddish shading.

Lagopus mutus, var. rupestris, LeachROCK PTARMIGAN

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 & RichardsonWHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN

Tetrao (Lagopus) leucurus, Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II, 1831, 356, pl. lxiii.—Nutt. Man. Orn. II, 1834, 612.—Ib. I, (2d ed.,) 1840, 820.—Dougl. Tr. Linn. Soc. XVI, 146. Tetrao leucurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 200, pl. ccccxviii. Lagopus leucurus, Aud. Syn. 1839.—Ib. B. Am. V, 1842, 125, pl. cccii.—Gray, Gen. III.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 637.—Bon. Comp. List. 441, No. 291.—Elliot, P. A. N. S. 1864.—Ib. Monog. Tetraon. pl.—Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. V, 1867, 93.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 542.

Sp. Char. Male? winter (4,578, Fort Halkett, Liard’s River). Entirely pure white, including the tail. Wing, 6.70; tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, 1.00; bill, .35 by .29.

Summer. Wings, tail, abdomen, crissum, and legs immaculate snowy-white. Ground-color of rest of plumage grayish-white on head and neck and ashy-buff on other portions, finely and rather sparsely sprinkled with black,—more in form of ragged transverse bars anteriorly and on sides. (♀, 16,002, Camp Skagitt, N. W. B., August 16; C. B. Kennerly.)

Hab. Alpine summits of the Western mountains, from lat. 39° in the Rocky Mountains north into British America, and west to the Cascades of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Habits. This species was first procured by Mr. Drummond, and described by Swainson in the “Fauna Borealis.” Five specimens were taken on the Rocky Mountains in the 54th parallel, and another, by Mr. MacPherson, on the same chain, nine degrees farther north. They were said to have all the habits of the other Ptarmigans, and to inhabit the snowy peaks near the mouth of the Columbia, as well as the lofty ridges of the Rocky Mountains.

We have but little reliable information in regard to the habits and distribution of this species. It seems to be confined entirely to the range of the Rocky Mountains, and to be found only among their highest points, occurring at least as far to the south as Cochetope Pass, in latitude 39°, and extending north to an undetermined extent. Specimens were procured in 1858 by Captain R. B. Marcy, on his march from Fort Bridger, in Utah, across the Rocky Mountains to Santa Fé. They were met with near the summit of the mountains not far from Cochetope Pass.

Mr. Charles E. Aiken writes me that he has been informed that this bird is common on Snowy Range, in Colorado Territory. He was informed by an old miner, who claimed to have met with these birds breeding near the top of the range in June, that their nest, composed of leaves and grass, is placed on the ground among bushes on hillsides; that the eggs are fourteen in number, of a light bluish-brown, marked and spotted with a darker shade of brown.

Mr. J. A. Allen (Am. Nat., June, 1872) mentions finding, among the snow-fields of the higher parts of the mountains of Colorado, this Grouse as one of the essentially Arctic species that were not met with below the region of snow. The Ptarmigans were quite common, and in the winter descend into the timbered land, where a great number are killed by the miners for food.

An egg, given to Mr. Allen as a genuine egg of this species, was taken on Mount Lincoln, Colorado, by Mr. Arthur Meade. It is of an oblong-oval shape, and measures, as well as its imperfect condition permitted its length to be estimated, about 1.80 inches by 1.20 in breadth. Its ground is a deep ochraceous cream-color, marked with small rounded spots of a deep chestnut. These are pretty uniformly sprinkled over the surface. Except in size, it bears a close resemblance to the eggs of the European Tetrao urogallus.

Family PERDICIDÆ.—The Partridges

Char. Nostrils protected by a naked scale. The tarsi bare and scutellate.

The Perdicidæ differ from the Grouse in the bare legs and naked nasal fossæ. They are much smaller in size and more abundant in species. They are widely distributed over the surface of the globe, a large number belonging to America, where the subfamilies have no Old World representatives whatever. The head seldom, if ever, shows the naked space around and above the eye, so common in the Tetraonidæ; and the sides of the toes scarcely exhibit the peculiar pectination formed by a succession of small scales or plates.

Subfamily ORTYGINÆ

Char. Bill stout, the lower mandible more or less bidentate on each side near the end.

The Ortyginæ of Bonaparte, or Odontophorinæ of other authors, are characterized as a group by the bidentation on either side of the edge of lower mandible, usually concealed in the closed mouth, and sometimes scarcely appreciable. The bill is short, and rather high at base; stouter and shorter than what is usually seen in Old World Partridges. The culmen is curved from the base; the tip of the bill broad, and overlapping the end of the lower mandible. The nasal groove is short. The tail is rather broad and long.