33) 
thickets of Tromso in very large numbers, is the Sedge-warbler* 
(Acrocephalus phragmutis), the only species of its genus, which 
occurs in Norway. And with us it inhabits almost exclusively 
the regions north of the arctic circle, whilst everywhere else in 
Europe it is common in all lowland reed beds. 
Like most of the genuine migrants of the order Passeres, the 
small birds above alluded to, do not reach these their northern 
resting-places across the southern parts of Norway, but by the 
eastern route, across Russia and the Baltic provinces. One con- 
sequence of this is, that several species which appear frequently 
in Finmarken, such as the Red-throated Pipit (A uthus cervinus), and 
the Siberian Willow-Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), are either not 
met with at all during migration in the southern parts of the 
country, or appear there only occasionally and accidentally. 
Particularly numerous in the birch-woods of Tromsé are the 
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), and the Mealy Redpoll 
(Linota linavia); and the males, ubiquitous and irrepressible, are to 
be heard in the early summer practising their best arts of song, 
although the long, harsh call-note of the first mentioned,—the 
only one which it is capable of producing,—hardly deserves the 
name of song. 
But of all the numerous bird-voices, which meet us as we 
ramble on a spring day through the still leafless groves of Tromso, 
there is none more surprising, than the guffaw of the male Willow 
Grouse (Lagopus albus). This vivacious bird, newly arrayed in its 
handsomest spring plumage, with the dark chestnut-brown head 
and neck contrasting sharply with the remainder of the still snow- 
white dress, never omits to croak, when it settles, after being 
flushed. Its voice is curious, and indescribable, and is a charac- 
teristic feature seldom lacking in the life of our mountain birch- 
woods. 
A fortnight later the hen lays her eggs among the heather 
or under a birch bush, often close by the frequented roads of the 
island, or even within the garden or enclosure of the villas. But 
she lies untouched and safe; her brown-speckled back matches 
* It may be worth noting, to avoid any chance of confusion, that the 
Norwegian name is Rorsanger, which means literally Reed-warbler; a species 
which does not occur so far to the north as even the south of Norway.— 7razs/. 
