32 



the steep precipitous mountain walls, which here and there fall 

 sheer down to the valley bottom ; here they glue up their in- 

 accessible nests under small projections, exactly like several of 

 the tropical species of swallow, which normally occupy clift 

 regions, and never come near human habitations. 



The Sand Martin also (Cotile riparia) goes so far up to the 

 north, as it finds serviceable nesting-places in the sand escarp- 

 ments ; and wanting these, it pierces its horizontal passages 

 into the turf roofs of the houses. The Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 

 on the contrary, stops further to the south, and only one or two 

 heedless individuals show themselves in Finmarken. 



In addition, we may mention as purely accidental stragglers, 

 only quite by chance found here in the far north, the Swift 

 (Cypselus apus},* the Hoopoe (Upripa epops), the Turtle Dove (Turtur 

 communis), the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), the Coot (Fulica atra), 

 various waders and some other birds. 



We have hinted above how the fauna in our part of the world 

 shows a tendency to extend itself westwards, and that Finmarken 

 has thus by degrees become inhabited by several species of 

 purely eastern-arctic origin. It is worth remarking therefore, 

 that there are still found various species of small birds and waders 

 which inhabit the country to the east of Finmarken, (the Kola 

 peninsula and north Russia), but which are not known to have 

 yet passed the frontiers of Norway. Such are two species of 

 Bunting (Emberiza rustica\ and E. pusilla}, the Yellow Wagtail 

 with the lemon-coloured head (Motacilla citreola), a Pipit (Anthus 

 gustavi),. and the Terek Sandpiper (Terekia terek) ; of the Rosy 

 Bullfinch (Carpodacits evythrinus) only a solitary individual blown 

 out of his course, has hitherto been found near Christiania. The 

 White- winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptem), which nests in north 

 Russia, is on the contrary frequently found during the autumnal 



* It may be worth recording that in September, 1888, I saw three pairs of 

 Swifts, which were apparently breeding on a high cliff forming the bank of the 

 river Pasvig, half-a-day's journey eastwards of Lake Inari, in Finland, within 

 a dozen miles or so of both the Russian and Norwegian frontiers, in approximately 

 6853'N. Lat., and 25 53' E. Long. Trans/. 



t I shot two examples on the Finnish bank of the river Tana, that is, 

 immediately on the Norwegian frontier, at a place called Bildam (about midway 

 between Polmak and Utsjok), on September l8th, 1885. Trans!. 



