1924] Swarth: Birds and Mammals of the Skeena River Region 351

Lagopus lagopus alexandrae Grinnell. Alexander Willow Ptarmigan

Ptarmigan are said to oceur oceasionally in the lowlands of the
Hazelton region in midwinter, but during most of the year they are
restricted to the Alpine-Arctic mountain tops. We found them in
limited numbers on the timberless summit of Nine-mile Mountain.
There are miles of open country on the two converging ridges that
form the top of this mountain, barren of trees save for occasional
thickets of dwarfed or prostrate Alpine conifers, and here, at long
intervals, we encountered ptarmigan. It is a curious fact, whether or
no it was a mere coincidence, that on one of the two ridges only white-
tailed ptarmigan were found, on the other, willow and rock ptarmigan
were seen, but no white-tailed. To all seeming the two ridges were of
exactly the same character. In all, ten broods of willow and rock
ptarmigan were encountered (the species were not always to be differ-
entiated) and about five or six single birds in addition. The broods
ranged from three to twelve in number; the aggregate of young birds
seen was about fifty. The chicks grew rapidly. Some seen on July 25,
and a day or two later, were down-covered and unable to fly. At that
time they were accompanied by the female parent only, and the male
birds were flushed separately. By August 10 the young ptarmigan
were the size of quail and larger, and were strong on the wing. The
old males were then associated with the families. In some of the larger
broods seen the difference in size among the young was so marked as
to suggest the junction of two families. It might happen that upon
the death of a hen her offspring would seek the companionship of
another family.

Five willow ptarmigan were collected (nos. 42028-42032), four
adult males and one adult female. Three males have much white on
the lower breast and abdomen. the fourth is almost solidly in the
brown summer plumage. Many willow ptarmigan from different
localities in the northwest have been available for comparison with
these birds. Of Lagopus lagopus lagopus there is in this Museum
from northern Alaska and Yukon (Kowak and Yukon rivers) a series
of ninety-four skins, including a number in summer plumage or in
process of change. Of I. I. alexandrae, there are eleven specimens
from island localities in southeastern Alaska, including five summer
males. and one male and two females in first fall plumage. A pair
of breeding adults from Porcher Island. British Columbia, was loaned
by Allan Brooks. There have been available, from the collection of the