BIRDS OF ICELAND 39 



bird is so rare. I suspect that this must often happen 

 with a nation of great readers, if their early literature 

 is mixed up with that of other countries as that of 

 Iceland is with that of Norway and Denmark. I have 

 been exceptionally fortunate, therefore, in having met 

 with this bird on three different occasions, and in three 

 different years, but always on sea-fjords, and always 

 singly. Grondal considers it most likely to be met 

 with on the west and south-east, with which he is 

 probably most conversant. My actual experience 

 ranges from north-west to north-east. It is only an 

 occasional visitor, and has never been known to remain 

 for the winter, and its slow-flapping flight and blunt- 

 ended wings, with its grey plumage and black ' points,' 

 will serve to distinguish it from any other bird. The 

 Hegranes, in the SkagafjorSr, has apparently gained 

 its name from the occurrence of this bird there. 



Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.). Glossy Ibis. 



It is stated by Eeinhardt {Vidcnsk. Sclsk AfJi., vii. 

 96), that five examples were shot in the south of 

 Iceland and sent to Copenhagen in the spring of 1824. 

 In the remote chance of this bird's appearing in Ice- 

 land again, it may possibly be worth while to mention 

 that its figure and size are those of a Curlew and that 

 at a distance it looks black ; on a nearer examination, 

 the head, neck, and lower surface will be found to be 

 of a dull deep red, the wings and back nearly black, 

 with a metallic gloss of green and purple. Length 

 about 22 inches, wing 10^ inches. 



