BIRDS OF ICELAND 39 



bird is so rare. I suspect that this must often happen 

 with a nation of great readers, if their early literature 

 is mixed up with that of other countries as that of 

 Iceland is with that of Norway and Denmark. I have 

 been exceptionally fortunate, therefore, in having met 

 with this bird on three different occasions, and in three 

 different years, but always on sea-fjords, and always 

 singly. Grondal considers it most likely to be met 

 with on the west and south-east, with which he is 

 probably most conversant. My actual experience 

 ranges from north-west to north-east. It is only an 

 occasional visitor, and has never been known to remain 

 for the winter, and its slow-flapping flight and blunt- 

 ended wings, with its grey plumage and black ' points,' 

 will serve to distinguish it from any other bird. The 

 Hegranes, in the SkagafjorSr, has apparently gained 

 its name from the occurrence of this bird there. 



r Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.). Glossy Ibis. 



It is stated by Reinhardt ( Vidcnsl'. Sclsk. Afh., vii. 

 96), that five examples were shot in the south of 

 Iceland and sent to Copenhagen in the spring of 1824. 

 In the remote chance of this bird's appearing in Ice- 

 land again, it may possibly be worth while to mention 

 that its figure and size are those of a Curlew and that 

 at a distance it looks black ; on a nearer examination, 

 the head, neck, and lower surface will be found to be 

 of a dull deep red, the wings and back nearly black, 

 with a metallic gloss of green and purple. Length 

 about 22 inches, wing lOj inches. 



