Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-23


| that the ptarmigan is found only IN the
| polar parts Of the earth, while ia reality it is
| found IN restricted localities far southwark
in the temperate zone, but always at Alpine
heights where the climatic conditions are
semi-Arctic, descending only IN the winter
as the cold lures them to lower levels. They
are essentially cold-weather loving birds,
and it is hardly good description Of any OF
their true characteristics to call them
mountain grouse, as is so often done with
Us. Thoy are not necessarily lovers Of the
mountains, bat simply the cold which
clings to the mountain sides, and in the
Arctic, where they can find this require
nent On the levels, they are no more numer-
Gus IN the rugged lands than on the storm
swept praries, and even from the Alpine
heights Of our own country they descend to
the evels with the winter SHOWS they love
so much
have often thought it would be good
idea if some naturalist fully acquainted
with Alpine fauna would make distinction
between mountaineering and mountain
abiding animal life, although it might be
hard to do SO in some special cases. Still,
when q bird or animal is found in the
mountains that remains there winter and
summer so long as it can find sustenance,
and when Its own kind or equivalent spe-
cies OF the tropics or the polar regions, if
any exist, are found only in the mountains, i
think tits fairly clear case of mountain low
ing life, or a true Alpine animal. On the
other band, if, like the case Of the ptarmi-
gan, the living object vacillstes up and
down with the advance and retreat of the
cold, and its like or equivalent species in the
Arctic is found every where on hills and
levels, 1t is as clear case OF mountain
abiding animal, there to be found because it
is cold, or true Arctic species. We find
this true also OF some savage races, some
being true lovers of the mountains, some of
the plains and pampas, while others again
can enjoy themselves only in the coolest
parts Of the earth. Despite the popular
idea that tho Eskimo have been driven to
their country by more warlike tribes south
OF them, short study Of them in their
midst would soon convince any one that
they are he d there by q moro invincible and
yet more pleasant power than tribal enc
mics-their deep love for the cold, and
they would no mere emigrate to the land of
so-called milk and honey than would the
musk-ox, wslrus or ptarmigan.
If an Eskimo was in our midst and knew
which way to travel to find the mountains
he would, if he could follow his inclinations,
as truly drift to their snow-clad peaks and
cool SUBMITS as would the ptarmigan, not
that he liked their rugged slopes, but
for the temperature which made life worth
living to him.
The Arctic grouse, like so many polar
birds and beasts that have their representa-
tives in lower climes, is of pure white the
most of the year. The Arctic fox, bear,
hare, and, in limited way, the Arctic deer,
all follow this rule in the snowy whitencss
of their coats. Nearly all of these-the
bear beng the noticeable exception-take
On this pure white coat only when nature
Grapes herself in mantle Of snow or in the
long Arctic winter. The ptarmigan, in par
ticular, is bird that changes coat in the sum-
mer time to q general dull-brown, notified
color, SO similar to the pervading hues of
the MOSES Of the Arctic summer that when
the hen is setting on her nest of moss the
keenest-eyed hunter could almost step over
her and not note her presence one time in
ten. But the real discovery is usually made
just as tho last footstep Is being taken,
when the hen grouse, with a whirr like a
buzz-saw striking a hard knot, springs into
the air and is half way to the North Pole
before the astonished discoverer can get
his gun in any sort of condition to secure
the bird. AS usual in such cases, the
sportsman now prepares himself to be in
better shape for the next one, and sees
nothing during the remainder Of the day.
AS the concealment in the winter months
by the slight contrast of its pure white coat
with the snow is equally effective, it can be
truly said to be one Of the best protected
birds bv itS rnjrnjcrU 0f eurroJpdin0 co,
ditions that probably exists. If they only
knew how well they are protected by this
color they could almost defy detection by
the eye Of man, but they go scurrying over
the snow-felds in way that makes them