LAGOPUS LEUOUEUS. S w a in .
IVniTE-TAlLED PTARMIGAN.
TETRAO (LAGOPUS) LEUCURUS, S'vain aud Rich., Fauu. Bor, Amor., vol. ii., 1831, p. 356, pi. Lxiii.—Nutt., ilau. Ornith,, vol. ii., 1834,
p. 612.—Ib. vol. i., 2d edit., 1840, p. 820.—Doug., Trans. Liun. Soc,, vol. xvi., p. 146.
TETRAO LEUCURUS. And., Oru. Biog,, vol, v„ 1830, p. 200, pi. 418.
LAGOPUS LEUCURUS. And., Syn., 1839.—Ib. Birds of Amer., vol. v., 1842, ¡>. 125, pi. 302.—Gray, Gen. of Bird.?, vol. Hi.—Baird, U. S,
P. R. K. Exp. aud Surv., vol, iv., p. 637.—Bon,, Gcog. aud Comp. List Birds, p. 44, No. 291.—Elliot, Proceed. Acad. Nat, Sciences
(1864), p.
It is with much gratification that I am enabled (through the kindness of Professor Baird, who, with his accustomed liberality, has placed
ill my hands the large collection of American Gronse and Ptarmigan belonging to the Smith.souiaii, to assist mo in my investigations for this
work,) to give a representation of this species iu its full summer plumage. Ilovctofove it has only been known to us by descriptions, or by
one or two mutilated specimens in tho winter dress, aud only lately have examples been received, as represented iu tho plate. I t is an inhabitant
of the lofty peaks of tho Rooky Jtouiitains, and of the snowy heights that look down upon the Columbia River. Like all the true
Ptarmigan, this species tiirus white iu winter, and is readily distinguished from all its relatives by having the tail always o f a pure UQUiixed white.
This species was first obtained by Mr. Douglass, but he failed to bring his specimens home with him. He says in his paper : “ But in the
first place I may be permitted to mention a new species, nearly allied to T. Lagopus, but much smaller, witli a white tail, aud when iu winter
dross, snow white, without tho least particle of black. This is an inliabitaDt of the Rocky Mountains, and the snowy peaks of Northwest
America. During my journey across the dividing ridge in April, 1827, I killed several, which, from the extreme difficulties to be snrmountod
a t that early season of tlie year, I was reluctantly obliged to leave behind me. This loss I do not now regret, as Dr. Richardsou was fortunate
enongli to secure the species, au accurate description of which will be shortly given by him in his forthcoming ' Fauna of British North
America.’ ” Richardson, iu tho work above mentioned, says : " Of this species I have ouly five specimens, four procured by Mr. Drummond
on tho Rocky Momitains, in the fifty-fourth parallel, and one by Mr. JIacpherson ou tho same chain, nine dcgi-ces of latitude farther north,
* * * * The sexes of iny specimens were not noted, but none of them have the black eye stripe; and Mr. Drummond, who killed great
numbci-s, is confident that that mark does not exist in cither sex."
The habits of tlic IVIiitc-tailcd Ptarmigiin arc said, by the authors quoted above, to resemble those of tlic Ptarmigan (Lagopus Mutus).
Preferring tlic temperature of eternal snow, they descend to tho lower portions of tlie luoniitaìns only for the purpose of incubation, and
return again to their loved mountain tops as soon as that duty is accomplished. Tliesc birds arc admirably adapted by nature to withstand
tho most intonse cold, being so densely and completely covered with foathcvs as to leave only the bill aiul ends of the nails e.vposed to the
piercing blasts which siveep over their siiow-clad homes. The change of plumage also is an additional protection given to them by tbe all-
wise Creator, for clad in tlieir w'intor ilress of pure white, they arc so assimilated to the snow around, as to i-oiidcr them invisible, even to the
searching eye of tho lumgvy hawk ; and in summer, by nppi-oacliiiig to the hues of the lichen and moss, they are almost impossible to be
distinguished from a clod or turf as they nestle closely to the ground. They, like all of the Lagopid®, do not commence to change from the
snimiicr to the iviiitor di-cs,«, and vice versa, a t the same time, in all individuals; and thus it is difficnlt to find two examples exactly alike. Tiicy
also vary in tho color of their plumage, some being much darker than others, w ith broader bare vipoii the feathers ; sometimes even having large
blotches of black upon tlio back. It is tliis (liffcrcncc in tlie color of the plumage of inilividnals which has caused so much confusion in the
classifioatioii of this family, and specimens have been described as now species, which evciitnally ii oiild prove to be but varieties. This, how-
ei cr, has not been tho ease with the present specie.«, as its white tail wonld a t all times clearly separate it from every acknowledged species of
Ptarmigan,
If -wc would SCO them iu tlieir liaunts, wc must climb to tlie lioiglits wliereon they dwell ;—pcvlia[is n
y task,—but the student of natvive
;o often to love to conceal. Up the
must incur fatigue, and overcome many obstacles, before he can acquire the knowledge which she seems s<
nigged sides of a lofty mountain, whoso summit is clothed in perpetual snow, and rich in prismatic hue
plain, wc gradually ascend, the liiiidscaiic, unfolding ikclf beneath ns, ivith mniiy cliockored colors, is lost ii
their wandering course, glisten like silver threads upon the rich carpet thvongh which they flow, and the entire
r path lies; and as, leaving the
11 the far horizon. Tho streams, in
IV lies bathed in the mellow