8 ICELAND. 



Swans breed in considerable numbers among these 

 lakes, unmolested except by a hardy native who may 

 venture into the wilds to shoot them for their feathers. 

 The swan is of only one species, the cygnus musicus : 

 some naturalists have asserted that another species is to 

 be found in the island, but the natives are very positive 

 that one kind only visits the island, and certainly amongst 

 those which I saw, I noticed none but the hoopers. 

 Glorious, indeed, is the note, shrill as a trumpet-call, 

 uttered by this majestic bird, when the labours of incu- 

 bation are completed, and it sings its paean of triumph 

 over its fledgelings. 



The swans generally are in pairs in a lake : among 

 these tarns it is rare to find more than one couple to 

 each sheet of water. An attempt on the part of a second 

 pair to intrude is resented as an intrusion, the swans 

 regarding the lake as an Englishman regards his house 

 as a castle. But this is not the case always. I counted 

 some eighteen swans on the great lake in the Vatnsdalr ; 

 but there the sheet was extensive. Perhaps the reason 

 of the tenacity of the swans on the Arnarvatn lieidi to 

 their rights is the scarcity of provender, and they may 

 be aware that what is enough for two would be starving 

 for four. 



Another bird frequenting these lakes, also in couples, 

 is the Great Northern Diver, a magnificent fellow in 

 gorgeous metallic glitter of green and black, his wings 

 and back sprinkled with white, and his breast of spotless 

 purity. The size of the bird is great, his neck and head 



