1888-89.] -^ sporting Tour in Norway. 21 1 



preceded by a day's rain, and the water somewhat swollen and 

 coloured, we had evidence sufficient, from the large number of 

 fish discernible, that the efforts of even the most inexperienced 

 of our party would have been crowned with a well - filled 

 basket. I was much struck with the absence of bird life. 

 With the exception of birds of prey, ryper, wagtails, and a few 

 other species, birds are by no means numerous. The first 

 named are in great abundance, hoodie - crows and magpies 

 sitting on the toj)S of the houses apparently quite tame. It 

 is therefore not to be wondered at that the smaller birds are 

 scarce, as, notwithstanding the Norwegians putting artificial 

 nests in the trees, and doing everything they can to foster 

 and encourage them to breed, they do not seem to understand 

 that the eggs and young are destroyed through the predatory 

 instincts of the birds of prey referred to. Eyper, a species of 

 grouse, are found in all parts of the country, and contribute 

 largely to the food of the people. I learned that red grouse 

 had on more than one occasion been introduced from this 

 country, but in consequence of the severity of the winters 

 they very soon disappear. It must not be supposed that they 

 succumb to the weather, as our grouse are the most hardy of 

 the feathered tribe ; but their dark plumage, during the pro- 

 tracted snowstorms peculiar to Norway, attracts the attention 

 of every passing bird of prey. It is otherwise with the 

 native ryper, as they, like the ptarmigan, change their plumage 

 with the season, which vies with the snow in whiteness. 



Weighing anchor again, we sailed up the fjord, calling at 

 Eide. Four of us went on shore here, put up at the hotel for 

 the night, and crossed the country for a distance of fifty miles, 

 joining the steamer again at Gudvangen. The drive took us 

 through some of the wildest and most picturesque scenery in 

 Norway. Eeaching Stalheim Hotel after dark, in a downpour 

 of rain, we staid there for the night. As it had rained for 

 twenty-four hours, we found, after breakfast the following 

 morning, that the Neer^dal river was rather high for fishing. 

 Still, we resolved to try our luck. For myself, I had deter- 

 mined to have a cast for a salmon, and to test the defensive 

 capabilities of a fish in the Norwegian waters with that of 

 the silvery model salmon on the waters of the Tweed or Tay. 

 Walking down the river a couple of miles ahead of my com- 



