76 DAN MEINERTZHAGEN'S DIARY. 



I asked whether for life, the answer was " No, 

 for 120 years." They must consider Lapps 

 very long-lived. 



We have both of us seen mountain hares in 

 the " blue " stage. They seem to have 

 changed very quickly since about a fortnight 

 ago. The natives say that some years they 

 are very plentiful. Evidently not so this year. 

 At Quickiock, when Wheelwright was there, 

 they were swarming. 



The trout here are capital to eat, beautifully 

 pink flesh, as good as Test trout, but we have 

 them every day, morning and evening, and, as 

 the alderman said, "toujours perdrix " becomes 

 rather monotonous. We feed on Black Game, 

 Willow Grouse, and Golden Eye eggs. The 

 only thing to make it perfect would be 

 some iced drink, as the weather is frightfully 

 hot, and there is no night in which to keep 

 away from the sun. We don't know when to 

 sleep. As far as I can make out, we are out 

 for about thirty-six hours, and then sleep for 

 twelve, but it seems to suit us. 



The Dusky Redshank I got to-day I mean 

 the eggs I found on a dry patch of ground, 

 where the heather had been burnt. The 

 plumage of this bird black and white no 

 doubt led it to breed there, which is very in- 



