[Illustration 184: 299--300a.] [Illustration: J. B. Pardoe. NEST AND EGGS OF RUFFED GROUSE.] [Illustration: left hand margin.] Page 183 301. WILLOW PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus lagopus._ Range.--Arctic regions, in America south nearly to the United States border, and casually to Maine. Ptarmigan are Grouse-like birds, feathered to the toe nails; they have many changes of plumage, in winter being nearly pure white, and in summer largely reddish brown or grayish, barred with black. In the breeding plumage they have red comb-like wattles over the eye. In other seasons, their plumage varies in all degrees between winter and summer. They nest on the ground in hollows among the leaves, lined with a few grasses, and sometimes feathers. They lay from six to sixteen eggs which have a ground color of buff or brownish buff, heavily speckled, blotched and marbled with blackish brown. Size 1.75 × 1.25. 301a. ALLEN'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus lagopus alleni._ Range.--Newfoundland. A very similar bird to the preceding; eggs indistinguishable. 302. ROCK PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris rupestris._ Range.--Chiefly in the interior of British America, from the southern portions to Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. A species with a smaller bill and in summer a grayer plumage, more finely barred with black. Its nesting habits are the same as the other species, it nesting on the ground in such localities as would be frequented by the Ruffed Grouse. Its eggs cannot be positively distinguished from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. Size 1.70 × 1.20. [Illustration 185: Brownish buff.] [Illustration: Willow Ptarmigan. Rock Ptarmigan.] [Illustration: Buff.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 184 302a. REINHARDT'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris reinhardi._ Range.--Labrador and Greenland; an eastern variety of the preceding species. Its habits, nesting habits and eggs are just the same as those of Rock Ptarmigan. 302b. NELSON'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris nelsoni._ Range.--Unalaska, of the Aleutian chain. An abundant species in its restricted range, making its nest on the ground in the valleys. Eggs like the others. 302c. TURNER'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris atkhensis._ Range.--Atka Island, of the Aleutian chain. Nests and eggs not distinctive. 302d. TOWNSEND'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus rupestris townsendi._ Range.--Kyska Island of the Aleutian group. On account of the constantly changing plumage of these birds, while interesting, they are very unsatisfactory to study, and it is doubtful if anyone can identify the different sub-species of the Rock Ptarmigan, granting that there is any difference, which is doubtful. 302.1. EVERMANN'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus evermanni._ Range.--Attu Island, of the Aleutian group. This is, in summer, the darkest of the Ptarmigans, having little or no rufous and much blackish. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the Rock Ptarmigan. 303. WELCH'S PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus welchi._ Range.--Newfoundland.