2 9 



where we lodge with the friendly Kvaen (=Finlander), Johan 

 Kolstrom, before we pause at the sound of the characteristic call- 

 note of the Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola emtcleator), one of the prettiest 

 birds of our fauna ; and in the (still in the beginning of July) 

 leafless birch-trees we quickly discover its loosely built nest, 

 composed of dry birch-twigs. Its life-history and habits are 

 remarkable. Undismayed in the presence of danger, the Pine 

 Grosbeak sits on its eggs so zealously, that it sometimes allows 

 itself to be touched by hand before leaving the nest; it then 

 flutters some few paces away, and gazes without shyness upon 

 the strange disturber. 



It is not an easy thing to give fixed rules for the variation of 

 colour, which appears in the different ages and sexes both in this 

 species, and in its relations the Crossbills (genus Loxia). In the 

 flocks of Pine Grossbeaks, which make their appearance in the 

 autumn on the lowlands in southern Norway, some of the males are 

 crimson of various shades, others are yellowish ; and some greenish- 

 yellow males may be so absolutely like the females, which are 

 always so coloured, that no external difference can be detected 

 between them. But in some years one meets with hardly any 

 but red males, in others mainly yellow specimens, and it seems 

 almost as if the young males' first plumage was in some years 

 formed with the majority red, and in others yellow. 



The commonest species of Tit in these high-lying birch-woods, 

 is the Lapland Tit (Parus cinctus), which in its life-history and 

 habits approaches the Northern Marsh Tit(Parus borealis),a.nd like 

 it hollows out its nesting-hole in the dry birch stumps. It is the 

 " Talgoxe "* of the inhabitants of Finmarken, and comes in the 

 winter into the houses, in order to peck at the fat in the joints 

 of reindeer meat hanging outside the store-houses. 



Before we have proceeded far along the bank of the 

 river, where the- birch wood grows luxuriantly on the warm 

 slopes, our attention will be arrested by the voice of an un- 

 known songster, which, with short intervals, repeats his stanza 

 with incredible perseverance. This song, which may be heard 

 by the hour at a time, and at all hours of the day or night, but 



* Lit. Tallow-ox. Trans!. 



