L A G O P U S ALBUS .
WILLOW riARMIGAN.
TET1Ì.Y.0 ALBUS. Gmel., Syst. Nat., vol. j., 1788, p. 750.—Lath,, Ind. Oruith., vol, ii„ p. 639.
TETRAO SALICETI. Temm., Man, d’Ornith., p. 471, vol. i.—Sab., Appcn. Prank. Narr,, p. C81.—Rich,, Appcn. Parry, 2
d Voy., p, 347.—
iv., p. 743,
And., Ornith. Biog., vol, ii,, 1K34, p. 528, pi. 191.
TETKAO (LAGOPUS) ALBUS. Nutt., Man. Ormth,, vol. i„ 2d edit,, 1840, p, 8IC.
TETRAO (LAGOPUS) SALICETI. Swuin, F. Bor. Ame;., vol. ii., 1h3I, p. 351,-Ros.s Arct Exp p 28
LACOPÉDE DE I..V BAIE OTIEDSOX. B u t, vol. iii., p. .310.-W., Oi., ,„l. ii, p. 2 7C .-& V ,'li.g . A . i . , 449.
TETRAO LAGOPUS. Forst,, Phii. Trans., Ixii,, 1772, p. 390.
WHITE GROUSE. Pennant, Arctic Zool., vol. ¡., p. 300.—Lath., Syn., v
YVHITE PARTRIDGE. Edwards, Birds, pi, 72, male in change.
YVILLOYV PARTRIDGE. Ilcarnc, Journ., p. 411.
PERDIX DES SAULES. Ilcarne, Voy. il I’OcJan du Nord, p. 338, edit, in 4°.
TETILVO DES SAULES, OU MUET. Temm,, Pig. et Gall., vol. iii,, p. 208, t. „Vnat., 11, f. 1, 2, and 3.
TETRAO LAPPONICUS. (imcl, Syst. Nat., vol. i.. p. 751, sp, 25.—Lath., Ind. Ornith., vol. ii., p. WO, sp 12
YVEISSE WALDIIUHN. Bechst., Naturg. Dcut., vol. iii., p. 1353.
TETIUO REHUSAK. Temm., Pig. et Gall., vol. ¡1!., p. 225,
REHUSAK GROUSE. Latlj^ Syv, Suppl., vol, i„ p. 2IC,—Penn, Arct. Zool., vol. ii., p. 310.
LAGOPUS ALBUS. Bon., Am. Phil. Trans,, vol. iii., N. S., p. 393, sp. 313.—And., Syn., 1839, p. 207.—Id., Birds of Amer., vol. v„ 1842,
p. 114, pi. 299.—Gray, Gen. of Binls, vol, iii.—Baird, U. S, P. K. R, Exp. aud Surv., vol. ix., ¡j, 633.—Boie, LsU, 1822, p.’
558.—G, R. Gray, Cat. B. Bril. Mus,, Pt. III., p. 47 (1844).—Ikm., Geog. and Comp. List Birds, p. 44, No. 288
LAGOPUS SALICETI. Gould, Birds of Euro[.e, pi.
LAGOPUS SUBALPINUS. Nils., Orn. Suec., vol. i„ p. 307, sp. 139,
LAGOPl’S BRACHYDACTVLUS. Temm., Man, d'Oruitli., vol. iii., p. 328.—Gonld, B. of Eur., pi. 250.—Gray, Gen, of B., vol, iii.—Bon.,
Geog. and Comp. List B., p. 44, No. 300.
The Willow Grouse is an inhabitant of the northern poi-tions of both hemispheres, hnt is rarely soon within the limits of the United
States. Andnbon mentions tliat he bad seen the skins of several that were shot near Lake Michigan, and also states that he felt assured
it existed in the State of Maiuc, Although I do not think th a t the Willow Ptarmigan is an habitual resident of any part of the Union,
yet m very cold winters it has frequently migrated southward, and been taken within onr bordci-s.
Tliis specie.« is monogamous, and the male rcmaiiLs in the vicinity of the nest while the female is sitting, and afterwaixl accompanio.«
the brood until they are nearly full grown, cvmcing much affection and tenderness toward them, The female constructs her nest of twigs
and mos.scs, and lays about a dozen eggs of a rufous color, thickly spotted with reddish brown. Bnt ouc brood is raised during tlio
season, anil the young arc a t first covered with a yellowish down.
Audubon, speaking of the affection poreessod hy the adults for their offspring, states " that when a covcy ha)ipcBcd to come hi onr
way, the jiarcnt.s would lly directly toward us with so much boldncs.«, that some were actually kiilcd on the wing with the rods of our
guns, as they flew about in the agouie.s of rage and de.spair, with all tbcir feathers raised and ruffled. In the mean time, the little one.«
disiierecd and made off through the deep moss anil tangled creeping plants with great rapidity, squatting and kec|>iug close to the ground,
when it became extremely dilficult to Iind them."
The flight of the YVillow Ptarmigan is regular and swift, sometimes ¡irotractcd to a groat distniico; and on rising, tlicy utter a cluck
several times repeated, In winter they as.«ociatc together in large flocks, and obtain their snbsistciicc mainly by feeding upon the lichens
and moss, to reach which they arc obliged to scratch away the snow.