TROMSO TO VARDO 19 



kindly introduced us to the merchant who has the rights 

 over the Island of Horno, and he rowed us over to 

 see it. 



This small island rises suddenly from the water, and is 

 formed of mountain limestone seamed with quartz, on 

 the ledges of which the sea-birds nest. 



Large numbers of eiders were swimming, flying, diving, 

 and sitting on the rocks. After watching these birds for 

 a lone time in their awkward scrambling over the weed- 

 covered rocks, one wondered how it came about that 

 their feet and general build were not better adapted to 

 their habits, for they slipped and tumbled about in the 

 clumsiest manner. 



In vain I looked for the beautiful king eider. Whether 

 they breed here or not I cannot say. Mr. Holmboe told 

 me he did not know the bird. 



How wonderfully close the common eider sits. I 

 photographed a duck at the distance of two paces. 

 There were evidences, in scattered down and broken 

 eggs, of a good deal of robbery on the part of the gulls. 

 Of course an eider, when of her own accord she leaves 

 her nest, covers up her eggs from sight. And this 

 practice seems sufficient to defeat the gulls ; though why 

 a keen-eyed gull should not notice that which is patent 

 to every one else is hard to understand. But, if a sitting 

 duck is startled, away she goes without more ado, often 

 scattering an egg or two over the edge of the nest. And 

 this is the robber's chance. 



