NORWAY 85 



Alston afterwards shot the ? . The young are still flying, 

 and we hope to secure them at our leisure. 



We had an excellent breakfast of Reindeer liver and 

 eggs, after which we went to the big marsh, but it did 

 not fulfil our expectations. Moreover, as we had sus- 

 pected, it had a very short time ago been entirely under 

 water, and not a single bird of any description was seen 

 in it. It is covered with a thick growth of scrub or 

 dwarf-willow and ikke godt for waders. 



We now rowed down the river and landed near a Soeter, 

 where we heard of Bjerg-ulf from an old squatter, who 

 rowed us across the lake a nameless one and we 

 searched about three-quarters of a mile of low round 

 rocks in vain. Then to another rock on the opposite 

 side again, while Ole rowed the boat back a hard pull. 

 Here we saw plenty of signs of the birds, but no birds 

 or nest, though the old man found the nest here twice 

 before, and this year saw two eggs, which he left, but 

 which had been removed by the birds when he returned. 

 He will have yet another search for the nest for us. The 

 bird is heard often on the south side of the river and 

 lake. 



This man, Ole says, will be a useful fellow. He took 

 down his name and address in his pocket-book along with 

 a list of the birds he may get next year. His name is 

 Lars Larsen, of Laargaard, and is a wealthy old rascal, 

 who has coolly taken possession of a piece of land, and 

 having kept it for so many years, cannot now be turned 

 out by the rightful owner. It seems to me that men in 

 Norway blessed with the name of Lars are often rascals, 

 and as often the best bird-nesters. Ole will make use of 

 him next year. 



Alston shot another Budytes melanocephala, a fine $ . 

 These birds are quite common here. The ? has the cap 

 quite grey without any appearance of black. We saw 



