LAGOPUS LEUCUPUS. Sw ain .
IVIHTiyi'AlLED 1>TA1!M1G.AS.
TETKAO (J AGOPUS) LEUCURL'S. Swain aud Rich., Fauu. Bor. Amer., vol. u., 1831, p. 356, pi. lxiii.—Nutt,, Man. Ornith., vol. ii., 1834,
p. 612.—lb. vol. i., 2d edit., 1840, p. 820,—Doug., Trans, Linn. Soc., vol. xvi., p. 146.
TETKAO LEUCURUS. Aud., Oru. Biog., vol, v., 1830, p. 200, pi. 418.
LAGOPUS LEUCURUS. Aud., Syn., I«39.—Ib. Birds of Amer,, vol. v,, 1842, p, 125, pi, 302.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol iii.—Baird, U. S.
P, R, R. Exp, aud Surv., vol, iv,, p, 037,—Bon., Gcog. and Comp. List Birds, p. 4t, No. 291.—Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Scieuces
(ISW), p. ___________________________
It is with much gratificatiou tb a t I am CDablcd (through the kiudness of Professor Baird, who, with his accustomed liberality, has placed
in my hands tlic large collection of American Grou.se and Ptarmigan belonging to tiie Smitlisouian, to assist me in my investigations for tliis
work,) to give a representation of tliis species in its full summer plumage. Heretofore it has only been kuowu to us by descriptions, or by
ouc or two mutilated siieeimens in the winter dress, and only lately have examples been received, as rcpre.xented in the plate. It is au in-
haliitaut of the lofty peaks of Hie Rocky ilountains, aud of the snowy hcighu tliat look down upon the Columbia River. Like all tho true
Ptarmigan, this species turns white in winter, and is readily distinguished from all its relatives by having the tail always of a pure uimii.xod white.
This species was first obtained by Mr. Douglass, but he failed to bring his specimens home with liim. He says in his paper; “ But in the
first place I may be permitted to mention a now apccics, nearly allied to 71 Lagopus, but much smaller, with a white tail, and when in winter
dress, snow white, without the least particle of black. This is an inhabitant of tlie Kocky Mountains, aud the snowy peaks of Nortiiwcst
America. During my journey across tlio dividing ridge in April, 1827, I killed several, which, from tlio extreme difficulties to be surmounted
a t tliat early season of Hie year, I was reluctantly obliged to leave behind me. Tliis loss I do uot now regret, as Dr. Richardsou was fortunate
onoiigli to secure tlic species, au accurate description of whicli will be shortly given liy liim in liis fortlicoming ‘ Fauna of British North
America.’ ” Richardsou, in the work above mentioned, says: “ Of this species I have only five specimens, four procured hy Mr. Drumuioud
on tbe Rocky Mouutaius, in tlie fifty-fourth parallel, aud ouc by Mr, Macplicrsou ou the same cliaiu, uiiie degrees of latitude fartlier uoi-tli,
* * * * The sexes of uiy spccimcus were uot noted, but none of tlicm hove tlic lilack eye stripe; aud Mr. Druiiimoud, who killed great
numbers, is coufideut Hiat thut mark docs not exist iu eitiier sex."
Tlio habits of the Wliite-tuilcd Ptarmigan are said, by tiie authoi-s quoted above, to resemble tliose of Hie Ptarmigan (Lagopm ilalus).
Preferring tiie tem[icrature of eternal snow, they descend to tlie lower portions of tlic mouutaius only for the pur|)osc of iiioubatioii, nnd
return again to tlicir loved mouutaiii tojis as soon as that duty is acconiplislied. Tlicsc birds arc admiralily adapted by nature to witlistaiid
the most iiitciisc cold, being so densely am! eomplctely covered with feathers as to leave only tlie liill and emis of tlic nails exposed to tlic
piercing blasts wliicli sweep over thoir snow-claii homes, Tlie change of plumage also is au aiiditional protection given to them hy tlic allwise
Creator, for clad in tlicir wiutcr dre.s.s of pure white, they are so assimilated to tlic suow around, as to lomlcr tliem iuvisible, even to Hie
seareliiug eye of tlie hungry liawk; ami in summer, by approacliiug to the hues of tlic liclien and moss, tliey arc almost impossible to be
distiiigiiislicd fi'om a clod or turf as they nestle closely to the ground. They, like all of the Lagopid®, do not eommonce to cliangc from tlic
snmincr to tlio winter dress, and vice vei'sa, a t the same time, iu all individuals; and Hius it is difficult to limi two examples exactly alike. Tlicy
also vary in tlie color of tlicir piiiinagc, some being mucli darker Hiau otliers, witli liroadcr bars iqioii tlic featlicrs; sometimes even liaving large
blotolies of black upon the back. It is tliis diffeicucc in tbo color of tiic jilumage of iiidividiiab which lias caused so much confusion in tlie
classificatiou of tliis faniiiy, and specimens have been dcscrilicd as new s[)ccies, whicli cventunliy would prove to be but varielic-s. Tliis, liow-
ever, lias uot been tlic case with the present species, as its wliitc tail would at ail times elcariy separate it from every acknowledgeil sjiecics of
Plaiiuigan.
If-wc would sec tliem in their haunts, we must climb to tlic liciglits wlicreoii tliey dwell;—perhaps no easy task,—but the student of nature
must incur fatigue, nud overcome mauy obstacles, before iic can acquire the kiiowleilge wliicli she sccins so often to love to conceal. Up the
rugged sides of a lofty mouutuin, wlioso summit is eiotlied in perpetual suow, aud ricIi in prismatic luics, our patii lies; ami as, leaving tlie
plain, wc giadually nsccud, tlic landscape, iinfol.iiug itself beiieatli us, ivitli many clieckered colors, is lost in tlic far liorizoii. Tlie streams, in
tlieir wandering course, glisten like silver .tlireads upon tlie rich caqiet tlirougli wliicli they flow, ami Hie eutire view lies batiiod in tlie mellow