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L A D O P U S ALBUS .
WILLOW PTARMIGAN.
TETRAO ALBUS. Gnicl, Syst. Nat., vol. i., I7S8, p. 750.—Lath., Ind. Ornitli., vol. ii., p. 039.
TETRAO SALICETI. Teinm., Man. d’Ornith., p. 471, vol. i.—Sab,, Appcii. Prank, Nai-r,, p. 681.—Rich., Appcii. Parry, 2d Voy., p. 347.—
And., Ornitb. Biog., vol. ii,, 1834, p. 528, pi. 191.
TETKAO (LAGOPUS) ALBUS. Nutt., Man. Ornith., vol. i., 2d edit., 1840, p. 816.
TETKAO (LAGOPUS) SALICETI. Swain, F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., 1831, p. 351.—Ross, Arct. Exp., p. 28,
LAGOPÉDE DE LA BAIE D'UUDSON. Buff., vol. iii., p. 310.—Id., Ois„ vol. ii., p. 276.—Cuv,, Reg. Anim., p. 449.
TETRAO LAGOPUS. Forst,, Phil. Trans,, Ixii., 1772, p. 390.
WHITE GROUSE. Pennant, Arctic Zool, vol, i., p. 360.—Lath., Syn., vol. iv., p. 743,
WHITE PARTRIDGE. Eduards, Birds, pi. 72, male in change.
WILLOW PARTRIDGE, llearuc, Jonrn., p. 411,
PEKDIX DES SAULES. Hearne, Voy, à l’Ooéan dn Nord, p. 338, edit, in 4°.
TETRAO DES SAULES, OU MUET. Ternni., Pig. ct Gall., vol. iii., p. 208, t, Anat., 11, f. 1, 2, and 3.
TETRAO LAPPONICUS. Gincl., Syst, Nat., vol. i., p. 751, sp, 25.—Lath., Ind. Ornith., vol. ii., p. 640, .sp. 12.
WEISSE WALDEUHN. Bechst., Natnrg. Dent., vol. iii., p. 1353,
TETRAO REHUSAK. Temm., Pig. et Gall., vol. iii., p. 225.
RBIIUSAK GROUSE, Latli^ Syfe Snpph, vol, i., p. 216.—Penn, Arct. Zool., vol. ii., p. 310.
LAGOPUS ALBUS. Bon., Am. Phil. Trans., vol. iii., N. S., p. 393, sp. 313.—And., Syn., 1S39, p. 207.—Id,, Birds of Amer., vol. v., 1842,
p. 114, pi, 299.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii.—Baird, U. S, P. R. R. Exp. aud Surv., vol. ix., p. 633.—Boic, Isis, 1822, p.
558.—G. R. Gray, Cat. B. Brit, Jfus„ Pt, TIL, p. 47 (1844).—Bon., Geog. nnd Comp. List Birds, p. 44, No. 288.
LAGOPUS SALICETI. Goidd, Birds of Europe, pi.
LAGOPUS SUBALPINUS. Nils,, Orn. Suec., vol. i., p. 307, sp, 139.
LAGOPUS BRACilYDACTYLUS. Temm., Man. d’Ornith., vol. iii., p. 328.—Gould, B. of Eur., pi. 256,—Gray, Qcn. of B., vol. iii.—Bou.,
Gcog. and Comp. List B., p. 44, No. 300.
Tub Widow Grouse is an inhabitant of the northei-n portions of both hemispheres, but is rarely seen witliin the limits of the United
States, Audubon mentions th a t he had seen tlie skins of several that wove shot near Luke Michigan, aud also states that he felt assured
it existed in the State of Maine. Althougli 1 do not think tliat the Willow Ptarmigan is an habitual resident of any part of the Union,
yet in i-ory cold winters it has frequently migrated southward, and been taken within our borders.
Tliis species is monogamous, and the male remains in the vicinity of the nest while the female is sitting, and afterward accompanies
the brood until they arc nearly full grown, evincing much affection and tenderness toward them. The female constructs her nest of twigs
jind mosses, and lays about a dozen eggs of a rufous color, thicki)- spotted with reddish brown. But one brood is i-aiscd during the
season, and the yonng arc a t first covered with a yellowish down.
Andnbon, speaking of the affection possessed by the adults for their offspring, stotcs " th a t M-hcn a covey happened to come in our
way, the parents would (ly diicctly toward ns with so much boldness, that some wove actually killed on the wing with the rods of our
gnus, ns they flew about in the agonies of rage and despair, with all tlicir feathers raised and ruffled. In the mean time, the little ones
dispersed and made off through the deep moss and tangled creeping plants with great vapidity, squatting and keeping close to the ground,
when it became extremely dilficult to Iind them.’’
Tlie fliglit of the Willow Ptavmigan is regular and swift, sometimes protracted to a great distance; and on rising, they utter a cluck
several times repeated. In winter they as.socintc together in iavgc flocks, and obtain their subsistence mainly by feeding upon the lichens
nnd moss, to reach wliich they arc obliged to scratch away the snow.