1889. ] CHAMBERLAIN, Birds of Southern Greenland. 297 
The Longspur, like all the song birds of the far north, is quite tame and 
fearless of man, but is less frequently seen in the immediate vicinity of 
the houses at Ivigtut than the other species are. 
Saxicola cnanthe. WHEATEAR.— This is a common summer resident, 
and breeds here. In 1886 the first reached Ivigtut on April 4, and in 1887 
on April 12. In the fall of 1886 the last one, a young bird, was observed 
on October 5, though the bulk of the flock had gone off several weeks 
before. 5; 
It builds in locations similar to the Snowflake, though it commonly 
selects a spot under 600 feet high. The situation of the nest is also simi- 
lar, though the present species goes farther into the heaps of stones— 
sometimes as much as four feet or more. A favorite situation for the 
nest is the wall of a house or a stone fence. On June 21, 1886, a nest was 
found containing chicks about ten days old; and on July 15 another nest 
was found also containing very young birds. This latter was built quite 
close to the shore, not more than two feet from high-water mark. A 
nest taken June 9, 1887. contained eight eggs which had been sat upon 
about a week; another taken at an elevation of about 600 feet, on June 23. 
contained seven eggs, and several nests have been obtained from Green- 
landers containing sets of sixeggs. The Danish, Swedish, and German 
writers report that the number of eggs in a set in their countries is five to 
six, seldom seven. In the Faroe Islands this species is reported to lay seven 
or eight eggs. From these facts Mr. Hagerup infers that these birds thrive 
best-in a low temperature, and in the extreme north lay one egg more than 
is the rule in Central Europe. From experience thus far in Greenland he 
is inclined to give the number of eggs as six or seven and occasionally 
eight, but he thinks it posssible that the past seasons may have been pecu- 
liarly favorable for the song birds of that region, for a nest of the Redpoll 
was discovered with six eggs, the usual number being four or five, and 
a nest of Longspur’s was supplied with seven eggs instead of the customary 
five or six. 
In one particular the Wheatears of Greenland differ from those found in 
Denmark. The Greenland birds when near their nests utter, besides the 
usual notes, a loud, clear call which very much resembles the alarm note 
of the Snowflake. It is used by both males and females. 
This species is only seen in pairs excepting occasionally when a single 
family is met with in one group. 
Passer domesticus. EUROPEAN House SPARROW. — This species was 
introduced from Denmark several years ago. It has been known to hatch 
its young in nests built outside of the houses, but it does not thrive in this 
climate and the number is diminishing, five old males being all that are 
left of the colony,and these do not move five hundred feet from the 
houses. Mr. Hagerup considers that the cold has less effect upon them 
—is less destructive—than the severe and long-continued storms of snow 
and sleet. 
