SPOTTED REDSHANK. 477 



meaning an evil spirit; and one of tlie names of the bird 

 is taken from it — a name always spoken with a spiteful 

 emphasis by Reindeer-stalkers ; for this ' Rivattu ' is as 

 mischievous to them as a Grey Crow is to a Highland 

 forester, or a Gull to a seal-shooter. But the cry with which 

 it spoils their sport is tjeatij ; and from this another name 

 is derived, generally coupled with the distinctive epithet 

 corresponding to black, or with one meaning burnt tuood ; 

 but whether this last is taken from the colour of the bird, or 

 from a common place of resort for it, or from both, I am not 

 sure. Certain it is that this black bird not unfrequently 

 lays its eggs in a part of the forest which has formerly been 

 burnt ; and here is one of its most unexpected singularities 

 — a marsh-bird choosing the driest possible situation, even 

 hills of considerable height, and covered with forest-timber. 

 I have myself seen two nests so placed ; and one of them, 

 at least, was on ground which, from the charred wood lying 

 about, had evidently been burnt at some former period. 

 They were nearly at the top of long hills, many hundreds of 

 yards from any marshy places, good-sized fir-trees on all 

 sides ; but they were not in the thickest parts of the forests, 

 and the vegetation on the ground about was very scanty, 

 diminutive heather and such-like plants growing thinly 

 amongst reindeer lichen in slight depressions on the ground 

 — placed near some little ancient logs, so nearly buried, 

 however, as to afford no shelter, the bedding only a few dry 

 leaves of the Scotch fir. The bird sits sometimes so close 

 that one is tempted to try to catch it in the hand, its white 

 back conspicuous as it crouches with its neck drawn in. It 

 either gets up direct or runs a short way before it rises ; and 

 then it flies round with an occasional tjeuty, or stands upon 

 the top of a neighbouring tree, showing the full length of 

 its slender legs, neck, and bill. But it is not till it has 

 young that all its powers of eloquence are fully brought into 

 play : it then comes far to meet any intruder, floating over 

 him with a clear cry that echoes through the forest, or that 

 is heard over a great extent of marsh, or it stands very near 

 one, bowing its head, opening its beak quite wide in the 



