lo TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



feet above sea-level — v^^e saw a Kedstart, and a large 

 flock of Bramblings. 



Descending from the plateau, we left the valley of the 

 Etnadals Elv and entered that of the Beina Elv, which 

 rises near Nystuen on the Fillefjeld. Then down a 

 long hill to Frydenland, with fine views of the Strande 

 Fjord, which is very like a Scotch loch. Changing 

 horses at Frydenland, our road now led along the 

 side of the river and of the Strande Fjord. In the 

 distance we caught sight of the pure white heights of 

 the Fjeld which we intend to cross the day after to- 

 morrow if possible. Part of this stage was broken up 

 badly, as a new and better road is being formed. The 

 present one is very hilly. It was good practice in 

 driving straight, the little Norwegian ' heste ' going 

 fast down the hills to keep the weight of the carioles 

 from pressing too heavily on them. The latter part of 

 the road ran close alongside the Fjord. 



Before arriving at Fagernaes, Divers, Scaup, and 

 Goldeneye were seen, and on a small island close to 

 the station house, a pair of Pintail Ducks rose close to us 

 and circled twice round our heads. Of course the guns 

 were in the house. 



On the plateau I have mentioned, the small lakes were 

 quite hard-frozen, and marks of skier (snow skates) were 

 observable on some of them. 



Here at Fagernaes most of the Strande Fjord was 

 still covered with ice, not, however, of great thickness. 

 Curious to say, a trout or two were nevertheless seen 

 rising, and at ' aftensmal ' we had very fine trout, which, 

 however, had been caught by a net. 



We had quite a little chapter of accidents on this 

 journey, the principal one being that, close to Frydenland, 

 I dropped my little stick-gun out of my cariole, and 

 it was brought this evening by a lad who must have 



