ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF LAPLAND. 297 



ally under a small bush, built invariably altogether 

 of fine grass, loosely and without much care. The 

 eggs vary much in colour ; and like those of the 

 meadow and red-throated pipits, become paler with 

 age. They combine the characters both of the 

 bunting and pipifc, and often resemble those of the 

 black-headed bunting, but are more clouded than 

 streaked ; and I have seen them very like those of 

 the meadow pipit. This is one of the small eggs 

 that requires very careful identification. Six 

 appears to be the full number. By the end of July we 

 shot strong flyers, although most of the nests we 

 took were about the 27th June. 



I never saw the common sparrow (FringiUa 

 domestica, Lin.) at Quickiock, though I obser\ 

 them common at lockmock on our way home ; and 

 probably as cultivation spreads, this impudent 

 little bird will follow the plough. 



The chaffinch (F. calebs, Lin.; "bofink," 

 Sw.) was common up here, but not nearly so 

 much so as its congener, 



The brambling (F. montifringilla, Lin. ; " berg 

 fink," Sw. ; "vintan," Lap.,) was certainly the 

 commonest of all the small birds in our forests 

 during the summer ; and the flocks which we used 

 to see on the bare patches of cultivated land early 

 in May (when they first arrived) were past all 

 belief. Every forest was soon filled with them, 



