NOTES ON A TOUR IN ICELAND. 411 



ing and rearing their offspring, and to observe the instinct that is displayed 

 amongst them ; but in none more than in the Sclavonian Grebe(Podiceps cornuttis), 

 which, in the rearing and preservation of its young, displays an instinct truly 

 wonderful. This bird frequents the fresh-waters, and breeds amidst the Reeds 

 and other rank herbage. The nest is large, and floats on the surface of the water, 

 with which it rises and falls. It is composed of a mass of Reeds and other dry 

 aquatic plants. The eggs vary in number from two to four, and are when just 

 laid of a bluish- white colour ; but they soon become stained by the materials of 

 which the nest is composed. The size of the egg is one inch three-quarters long 

 and three inches three-quarters round, being a little larger than that of a Pigeon. 

 The young birds, when first hatched, are covered with grey-coloured down. No 

 sooner does the old bird perceive danger from any intruder, than she instantly 

 dives, and emerges at thirty or forty yards distance. One day during my sojourn 

 in Iceland, having observed one of these birds dive from its nest, I placed myself, 

 with my gun at my shoulder, waiting its re-appearance. As soon as it emerged 

 I fired and killed it, and was surprised to see two young ones — which, it seems, 

 had been concealed beneath the wings of the parent bird* — drop upon the water. 

 I afterwards shot several other birds of this species, all of which dived with their 

 young under their wings. The young were placed with their heads towards the 

 tail, and their bills resting on the back of the parent bird. 



The Red-necked Phalarope or Lobefoot {Tringa //yperborea, Linn.) breeds on 

 little hillocks among the marshes. The nest is composed of a few stems of dried 

 Grass. The eggs are four in number, of an oil-green colour, thickly spotted with 

 black ; in dimensions one inch and an eighth long, and two inches three-quarters 

 round, or about the size of that of a Common Thrush. The young birds leave the 

 nest as soon as hatched. On the approach of danger the old bird runs among the 

 aquatic herbage, spreading her wings, and counterfeiting lameness — for the pur- 

 pose of deluding the intruder, and after leading the enemy from her young, she 

 takes wing and flies to a great height, at the same time displaying a peculiar 

 action of the wings ; then descending with great velocity, and making simultane- 

 ously a noise with her wings. On her return to her young she uses a particular 

 cry, for the purpose of gathering the young together. As soon as she has collected 

 them, she covers them with her wings like the Domestic Hen. 



I visited Grimsey, a small island, which lies about forty miles from the main 



* Occasionally when a brood of newly-hatched aquatic birds enters the water for the first time, 

 one or two of the little creatures will contrive to climb on the mother's back, or under her wings. 

 The latter feat, especially, is easily performed by cygnets, on account of the well-known habit of 

 the Swan of sailing with its ample wings half-open, and arch shaped. In the case of the Horned 

 Grebe, however, the concealment undoubtedly took place with the cognizance of the parent, if 

 not with her assistance. — Ed. 



