242 BRITISH BIKDS. [vol. vi. 



but as the nests are found without the shghtest difficulty 

 and are regularly taken, it is probable tliat few succeed 

 in rearing young till the second or third attempt. It 

 is a fine sight to see a little fleet of half a dozen of these 

 handsome birds sailing about together, while others fly 

 overhead in pairs, uttering their weird notes. 



Oyster-catchers were found breeding by the sides of 

 the main streams in fair numbers, and Ringed Plovers 

 were also not uncommon on sandy and barren spots at 

 considerable distances inland. Golden Plover [Chciradrins 

 apricarius (L.)) were extraordinarily plentiful and their 

 warning whistle Vvas continually in our ears. Most of the 

 nests we found Avere in cup-shaped liolloAvs, which enabled 

 us to approach the bird without being seen. In such 

 cases the sitting bird, not having been warned by 

 its mate, flew direct from the eggs after a few steps. 

 Dunlin [Erolia a. alpina (L.)) were not uncommon, but 

 the nests are not easy to find, and in some cases the young 

 were already hatched. The Purple Sandpiper {E. m. 

 maritima (Briinn.)) was only met with once, on the barren 

 heath between Reykjavik and Thingvellir, and was 

 extraordinarily tame even for an Iceland bird, allowing 

 us to dismount and examine it from two yards distance. 

 Redshank [Tringa totanus (L.)) were quite common, but 

 chiefly confined to the lower ground. The Grev Phalarope. 

 {Phalaropus julicarius (L.)) still manages to survive as a 

 breeding species in the south, but is of course much more 

 numerous in the north of the island. We met Avith one 

 breeding pair within a few hundred yards of the shore, 

 to which they resorted to feed. Red-necked Phalaropes 

 (P. lohafus (L.)) were plentiful and widely distributed 

 wherever there were pools and marshes. It is pretty to 

 see them floating lightly in the eddies of some great river 

 which thunders along as though it would sweep every- 

 thing to destruction, while these delicate little birds 

 feed in the most unconcerned manner, picking up flics 

 even wliile they are Mhirled about by the current. The 

 first esss were found on June Cth. 



