Rumble in Eastern Iceland t^-r. 365 



the eastward the coiie-capped Dimons appeared^ illumiued 

 by a stray sun-ray. At 11 a.m. the anchor was dropped off 

 the settlement of Tveraa, and we took an opportunity of 

 going ashore in search of birds. The Rock-Pipit was very 

 abundantj being often in parties of from six to a dozen birds, 

 and soon a speciality was seen in the shape of the Faroese 

 Wren {Ti'oglodytes horealis), and an exciting pursuit of the 

 tiny bird, as it flitted among the rocks at the water's edge, 

 or crept like a mouse under and about them, resulted in its 

 falling to a lucky snap-shot. The Grey Crow was very 

 numerous and tame ; here, no doubt, he is at least useful as 

 a scavenger, devouring the garbage cast out by the fisher- 

 men. Several White Wagtails were seen and one obtained ; 

 the other species noted were the Raven, Meadow-Pipit, 

 Merlin, Whimbrel, Oyster-catcher, Ringed Plover, the Dun- 

 lin, and several common sea-fowl. Another Wren was seen, 

 and might have been secured, but since it haunted the simple 

 family graveyard adjoining a detached cottage, the peace- 

 fulness of the scene was not disturbed by an explosion of 

 gunpowder. On our return to the boat we observed at close 

 quarters a Garden-Warbler [Sylvia hortensis) seeking food 

 on some low herbage adjoining the houses ; and this is inter- 

 esting, as it is, we believe, the first record of its occurrence 

 in the Faroes. 



Early on the 5th we arrived at Thorshaveu. Here we were 

 informed that shooting was not allowed, owing to an alarm- 

 ing decrease in the number of birds ; and it was only after an 

 annoying delay that a generous landowner granted per- 

 mission to shoot over his estate on the hills behind the 

 town. Birds were in fewer numbers here, and during a long 

 round we only saw Oyster-catchers on the hills and a sprink- 

 ling of Rock- and Meadow-Pipits and Grey Crows on the 

 lower ground. Another Garden-Warbler was watched as it 

 fed on the red currants in a small storm-swept garden. We 

 also paid a pleasant visit to Herr Miiller, the ornithologist 

 and man of many offices. In the afternoon we left Strtimoe, 

 and our next place of call was Klaksvig, where we went 

 ashore. 



