DELAY AT REYKJAVIK 31 



think there is much risk, if, as we shall do, we wait for 

 favourable weather. We are now in treaty with a 

 Divinity Student who comes from that part of the 

 country to make a special journey to the Eastern Geier 

 Fugle skerry for us, as it is impossible for us to visit both 

 that and the Cape Reykjanes locality within the necessary 

 time. It will be an expensive business, but it is, I am 

 inclined to think, the best card in the pack, and one I 

 should never forgive myself for not playing, if afterwards 

 it should turn out the birds were there. It is very doubt- 

 ful if this rock, lying as it does 40 miles out, has been 

 visited for a hundred years. 



This fellow, by name Magnussen, will not be back by 

 the time the steamer sails next. He only came to us this 

 evening, and we have hardly considered the terms, but I 

 think we shall engage with him. He is highly recom- 

 mended by the Rector, but there is some difficulty about 

 his going, as he ought to pass an examination at the 

 College here just about the time ; but the Rector has 

 promised to see if that necessity can be avoided, so 

 sensibly do they regard such matters here. Only fancy 

 at Cambridge the Vice-Chancellor letting a man off his 

 Little-Go because he was wanted to go and look for a 

 Great Bustard's nest ! ! ! But Herr Rector Jonsen is a 

 real good fellow. The Land-Physicus, Herr Hjaldalin, 

 is to go with us to Kirkjuvogr, and we are to take as 

 guide Geier Zoega, the man Bushby recommended. I 

 very much want to go first to the Geysers, as nothing 

 ornithological can yet be done (for I should think nothing 

 but Iceland Falcon has eggs now, and we must give up 

 hope of taking any ourselves as they do not breed within 

 many days' journey of this), and we may afterwards be 

 hurried for time ; but Wolley requires gentle managing, 

 he is too fond of delaying things. 



May3. 



We have just heard that the steamer is positively to 

 sail to-night, so I must make haste to finish my letter, 

 especially as a learned professor of the Icelandic tongue 

 is expected every minute, to give us our second lesson in 



