62 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



had the rain commenced a few hours sooner doubtless we 

 could not have crossed at all. We got down to the road 

 about three miles from Nystuen and reached the station 

 about seven o'clock, after perhaps fifteen or sixteen miles 

 of very nasty soft walking, but we were not very tired 

 after all. 



About half a mile before reaching Nystuen I found a 

 Fieldfare's nest with six eggs, on the top of a post in an 

 outhouse or turf shed (house for keeping peat dry in). 



We saw two Hooded Crows near Kirkesceterne, one of 

 which birds Alston had previously noted yesterday. 



Alston having omitted to bring spare clothing, had to 

 wear in the evening a most original pair of old trousers 

 borrowed from Knut Nystuen, and his own waterproof. 



June 18. 



On Sunday, the 18th of June, rainy and stormy all day, 

 we did not go out, but wrote letters to Feilden and 

 Dresser, sorted eggs, skinned birds, etc. Alston found 

 the Eough-legged Buzzard's stomach contained remains 

 of at least five Lemmings. 



June 19. 



On Monday, the 19th of June, a fine but not warm day, 

 we went through the birch-wood to look for Skov Ryper, 

 Ducks, etc. Of the former we saw none where last Friday 

 Alston had seen several. The wet weather of Saturday 

 and Sunday must have caused them to shift their 

 quarters. 



We visited the nest found by Alston on Friday, but 

 could not shoot the old bird, nor could we identify her in 

 the bad light — so we left her. The only birds seen in the 

 vicinity were Redpolls, to which species we had little 

 doubt the nest belonged. 



Going down the Loerdal, below the bridge, I shot ^ 

 and ? Scoters, but lost the <? . 



