ENTOMOLOGY OF ICELAND. ^25 



our united forces, for Krisuvik. When we bad proceeded for 

 about two bours, and forded a stream, we dismounted from our 

 ponies on a little grassy islet. Tbe water of tbe stream bere, of 

 wbicb, bowever, I did not taste, was reported to be strongly 

 cbalybeate. Tbe only farm, dilapidated and now uninhabited, on 

 tbe wbole of tbe way, was next passed. We tben skirted tbe base 

 of some lava bills on our left, past a wide extending desert of 

 lava, as far as tbe eye could reach, only diversified by hillocks 

 and ridges and jagged peaks, all covered with whitish green moss. 

 I next noticed a natural bridge of lava close to tbe road, as though 

 constructed for the express purpose of spanning a watercourse. 

 Tbe wbole scene was highly picturesque. After some distance — 

 more than half- way, and a steep ascent and corresponding 

 descent— we enter on a plain strewn throughout its extent with 

 small cindery lava, and studded with many boulders that have 

 fallen from the heights above, unless borne down by tbe lava at 

 some unknown period. A great deal of the more level surface of 

 this plain also is covered with tbe whitish green moss. Tbe last 

 portion of tbe twenty miles from Hafnafiord, wherein not a single 

 dwelUng or human being was passed, proved very lengthy, trying, 

 and fatiguing from tbe steep ups and downs, the many brows of 

 bills to be crossed, as well as a plain covered with moss, that 

 treacherously conceals boles, or bides tbe jagged boulders of lava 

 beneath, or furnishes a superficial crossing, and so tempts one to 

 tread on tbe velvety but yielding surface. In traversing tbe whole 

 of this difficult ground we bad to dismount, and the ponies to be 

 led. Ultimately a farmer was knocked up on the far side of tbe 

 plain, who provided some milk for one or two of our party, while 

 a bottle of lager beer was uncorked for the remainder ; and this 

 individual undertook to pilot us on bis pony over the intervening 

 slopes by the nearest way to Krisuvik, as we bad come a consider- 

 able distance out of our way. As we alternately ascended and 

 descended several ridges, I noticed a large quantity of oxide of 

 iron on the face of the bills in close proximity to tbe sulphur, and 

 several solfataras, as well as volcanic lakes, in deeply depressed 

 situations in this neighbourhood. Tbe aspect of tbe bill-side in 

 places resembles an inflamed and blistered sore, to wbicb similitude 

 tbe swollen shape, no less than tbe yellow and white and dark red 

 hues, contribute. We wound our way across one grassy slope after 

 another, crossed a stream flowing between deep banks, reached a 

 meadow full of the hillocks so abundant in all this region, got to 

 the Company's dwelling-house, and sought in its different apart- 

 ments a few hours much-needed rest. Decidedly Krisuvik presents 

 a sight worth seeing, and tbe scenery at tbe place and on tbe way 

 thither repays one ; but it must be owned that it is an arduous 

 undertaking; — twenty miles, for tbe most part over by far tbe 

 worst road in Iceland. 



(To Le continued.) 



