T
LAGOPUS EUPESTEIS,
TETRAO KUI’ESTRIS. Gincl, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1788, p. 751,—Lath., Ind. Oraith., vol. ii., 1790, p. 040.—Sab,, Supp. Parry, 1st Voy., pi. c.vov.—
Uicli., A|ipoii, Parry, 2d Voy., p. 348.—Aud., Oruith. Biog., vol. iv., 1838, p. 483, pi. 3 0 8 .-Swain, Pann, Bor. Aincr., vol. ii., 1831,
p. 354, pi. XIV.
TETKAO LAGOPUS. Temm., Greciil. Birds, No. 4, p. 468,
ATTAGEN RUPESTRIS. Reich., Av. Syst, Nat., ISoI, pi. xxiv.
ROCK GROUSE. Pciin., Arct. Zool., vol. i., p. 364, and vol. ii., p. 312.
LAGOPUS RUI’ESTRIS. T.cacli, Zool. Misc., vol. ii., p. 290.—And., Syn., p. 208 —Id., B. of Amor., vol. v., 1842, p. 122, pi. 301.—Gray, Gen.
of B., vol. iii.—Baird, U. S. P. R. U. Exp, and Surv., vol. ix., p. 635.—Bon., Geog. and Comp. List Buds, p. 44, No. 290.
LAGOPUS AMERICANUS. And., Syn., 1839, p. 207.—Id., Birds of Amer., vol. v„ 1842, p. 119, pi. 300.—Baird, Birds of N. Amer.
LAGOPUS ISLANIIORUM. Eab., Pro d dor Island. Orn., p. 6.—Gray, Gea. of Birds.—Id., Cat. B. Brit. Mus., I’t. IU, p. 47, 1844.
TETKAO LAGOPUS ISLANDICUS. Schlcg., Hov. Crit. des Ois. d’Enr., p. 76.
TETRAO ISLANDICUS. Brehm., Eur. vog., vol. ii., p. 448,
LAGOPUS HEIXllAKDTn. Brchm.
LAGOPUS GRAENLANDICUS. Uroliin, Vogclfang, p. 204, note.
Tins species ai>poai-s to be found only in Iceland, Greenland, and the northern portions of the American continent, and is not, so far as my
investigations show, an inhabitant of tho Old World.
I t is closely allied to the common Plai-migan; but I liavc never seen, iu any of the specimens of Lagopns JIntiis, that I have had the oppor-
tmilty of examining, the peculiar markings nnd coloration which characterize the pi eseiit bird.
Specimens of.the Rock I’tamiigau lately received fi'om Arctic Amorica through the coUectoi-s of the Smithsonian Institution, in no wise
differ Irom many before mo from Greenland aud Iceland : while from their larger and differently shaped bills, and the yellow ish-brown hue
of their plumage, tlicy all would seem to be entitled to a spceiftc distinction from the Lagopns Mntns.
I havo therefore considered the Lagopus Islaiulictis, Lagopus Rcinliardtii, Lagopus Graeulandicus, and LagO|)us Amoricanus as synonyms,
as tho term Rupcstris takes precedence of tlicm all.
The Lagopns Amcricanns of Andnbon may, with some degree of certainty, bo ooiisiderod as the present species; for although he gives no
distinctive characters to separate it from either the Lagopns Albus or Lagopns Mntns; yet as he states its total length to be only fourteen
inches, and says that his specimen was lironglit from North America, it may reasonably be supposed to be tho Lagopus Rupcstris in cliaiigo.
'I'hc Rock I’tiii-migau undergo similar changes in their plumage, as is customary with the common Ptarmigan. In winter, with the
exception of tho tail, which is always black, the ciitiio plumage is white, the maies being distingnisliabie from the other sex by a black
mark thiongh the eye. Ilcarnc says o f'th is species tliat “ they never frequent the woods or willows, but brave the severest colds
on the- open plains. They always feed on the buds and tops of the dwarf birch, and after this repast generally sit ou the high ri(lgc.<
of snow, with thoir heads to windward. They are never caught in nets iikc the Willow Partridge, aud being so mneh inferior in size, tlioir
flesh is by no means so good, being black, hard, and bitter. They arc iu general like the IVood Partridge, either exceeding wild or vciy tame ;
and when in the latter humor I havo known one man kill one hundred and twenty in a few hours; for as they usually keep in large flocks, the
sportsman can frequently kill six or eight a t a shot.
“ Like the Willoiv Partridge, these birds change thoir plumage iu summer to a beautiful speckled brown; aud a t th a t season arc so hardy that
unlcs.s shot in the hcnd or l itals, they will fly away with the greatest quantity of shot of any bird I know. They discover great fondness for
their 3’oimg, for during the time of inculjation they ivill frequently suffer themselves to he taken by hand off their eggs.”
Tlic plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.