64 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



At the head of the Smedalsvand we crossed the bridge, 

 the water being so high that we had to wade nearly 

 knee-deep. We also had to wade a smaller stream below 

 Lille Frostdal, and went up that valley to a large rock 

 at its head. We saw the $ fly away across the valley, 

 and then it was joined by another bird at another rock 

 about half a mile off. Ole had crossed to the other side 

 to look at some smaller rocks — Alston and I keeping up 

 the side opposite to him. Coming under the big rock I 

 fired off a shot, and, to our delight, off came the ? from 

 the nest. 



It looked easy, and we climbed round the end of the 

 rock to the top. After lunching, Ole and I began the 

 descent. We found it easy, I going first with the rope 

 round me. A steep slope led to within 8 feet of the nest, 

 and on looking over I saw two nearly white eggs, lying 

 in a slight depression, which was lined with dry grass. 

 Only a very few sticks formed the rim of the nest. I was 

 not now quite above the nest, but rather to one side, nor 

 did I feel confident that I could reach it, or, if I did, that 

 Ole could pull me up again, as the purchase was bad, and 

 the rope from being led round a corner would have had 

 too much friction. 



Also, there being only two eggs in the nest, and the 

 birds shy, and evidently not sitting, both Ole and myself 

 thought it better to wait another day or two until a lad 

 comes up from Loerdal who is a capital cragsman, and 

 to whom Ole had written last night, offering in our name 

 two dollars to come and take the Valdersdal eggs. We 

 shall be able to take the eggs from both these nests when 

 he comes. 



We left the rope under a rock, and now proceeded 

 across by a pass to Slutedal, where we thought it possible 

 that another nest might be, as a third bird had been 

 seen, but in this we were disappointed. The third bird 



