476 NOTES OF A VOYAGE TO 



the mountain tops, by the respective names of " Dahl Rypa" 

 and " Field-Rypa.'" The nests of the fieldfare were abundant 

 in low bushes. In one of them I found the eggs, which very 

 nearly resemble those of the blackbird. In a marshy part of 

 the wood we gathered fine specimens of Pyrola tiniflora. 



1th. — We started early on our way to Iby, on the river of that 

 name (a tributary of the Alten), where we were to meet our 

 friends from Bossekop, at a picnic. Rowing a few miles down 

 Kaafiord, we landed at the little village of Quainvig, and pro- 

 ceeded inlando Our way lay for some distance by the side of 

 a chain of small lakes, whose rushy banks seemed very favour- 

 able for waterfowl. Not a bird, however, did we see ; indeed, 

 I believe the only living creatures I observed, except musqui- 

 toes, were a solitary eagle, and one specimen of Carahus gla. 

 bratus. Having crossed a rocky ridge, we began to descend, 

 through a fine dense forest, towards the Iby river, the rush of 

 whose rapids was distinctly heard. 



No very good plants occurred, excepting that on a small 

 patch of dung in the pathway I found no less than three 

 species of Splachnum growing together, including the fine S. 

 luteum. At length we arrived at the place of destination, a 

 lone farm-house, belonging to Madame Klerck. 



Here we found the ladies waiting for us, and a most glorious 

 collation spread out, to which, after our long and fatiguing 

 walk, we did full justice. The woods close to the house were 

 glowing with the rose-coloured flowers of Ruhus arcticus, 

 which also was abundant in the grass of the meadows. 



Some parts of the wood were also filled with StrutMopteris 

 Germanica, which made a magnificent appearance, with its 

 fine circles of fronds, of a most delicate and lively green. The 

 fructification was yet hardly apparent; but some of the old 

 spikes of former years remained on the plants. Attracted by 

 the sound of the river, we strolled down to it, and had to cross 

 a similar stony waste to that I have before mentioned on the 

 Alten. It had a yet more singular appearance, from the 

 quantity of large bushes of Tamarix Germanica, which were 

 scattered over it. These were now covered with spikes of 

 beautiful silky white seeds, and here and there a few flowers. 



After coffee, the ladies and their escort returned to Bos- 

 sekop, whilst the remainder of us resolved to stay, and devote 

 the next day to a further expedition up the valley. 



