474 ^'OTEs OF a voyage to 



tions of punch, champagne, &c. &c., so that on the whole we 

 did not fare amiss. Some national songs from the ladies formed 

 a very agreeable dessert to our repast. When this was over, 

 such of us as were naturalists left our other companions to 

 escort the ladies, and rambled away in search of objects of 

 natural history. The locality afforded few plants, excepting 

 very common ones. The Linncea, indeed, covered the ground 

 under the fir-trees, but then that grows every where in Nor- 

 way. A thicket of red currant bushes near the water's edge 

 was full of Actwa spicata, a rare British plant, which I had 

 never before seen growing wild. In some stumps of fir-trees 

 were abundance of Formica herculanea, and two other species 

 of ants, all living in juxtaposition. 



Pjftho depressus occurred in considerable numbers under the 

 bark of felled fir-trees, with its larva and pupa. It makes cir- 

 cular flat holes, whose diameters exceed by half their depth. 

 These are surrounded by a close mass of grains of wood. A 

 species o^ Rhagium was also abundant in all stages. It forms 

 circular holes rather deeper and smaller than those of Pytho, 

 and surrounded by twisted fibres of wood. 



On the river were a few ducks, but we could not get within 

 shot of them. Our anglers were equally unsuccessful, though 

 the river is said to abound with fine salmon. On the level 

 between the Sandfall and the shore of the Fiord, is a large 

 house, called the Amptmangaard, formerly the residence of the 

 Amptmans of Finmark, and I believe the birth-place of our 

 fair companion the Amptmaninde. It has stood unoccupied for 

 many years, which, in so lovely a situation, seems much to be 

 regretted. The high ridge of the Sandfall, which rises directly 

 behind it, completely screens it from the north, while from 

 the front a large extent of the most beautifully level turf 

 stretches to the water's edge, and being interspersed with 

 clumps of trees gives it quite the appearance of an English 

 park. The house, with some of the surrounding land, might 

 be purchased for 300 or 100/., and would make a delightful 

 occasional summer residence for a member of the Yacht Club. 

 We returned to Bossekop along the sea side of the Sandfall, 

 enjoying most delightful views over the Fiord. The great 

 glaciers of Seyland were very conspicuous in the distance. 

 At supper we had abundance of the berries of Rubus chwiKS- 

 moriis, called by the Norwegians " Moltebcer." These are 



