696 The Zoologist— April, 1867. 



Generally a more steady summer warmth sets in late in June, but the 

 song birds lay their eggs about the middle, and Alanda alpestris and 

 the thrushes about the commencement of the month, still sometimes 

 not before July. 



The heat can be oppressive in the summer, and in Vardo is as high 

 as 24° R. ; but during the steady summer weather a fresh wind blows 

 up the fjords from ten to five o'clock, and during the night blows 

 down the fjords. The colder weather sets in late in August, and the 

 nights are often frosty between the 4th and 11th of August. The 

 above has reference to the country between the Varanger and Tana 

 Fjords, where at Nyberg I have, during several yaars, made careful 

 observations on the temperature and changes of weather. 



In good summers when the spring sets in early, Garrulus infaustus, 

 Alauda alpestris and Fringilla linaria lay two lots of eggs, the two 

 latter laying the first in May and second in July. It is certainly 

 difficult to determine whether the same bird really lays twice, but 

 the space of time between makes it not impossible. Taking into con- 

 sideration the position of East Finmark one would be justified in 

 expecting a rather rich ornithological Fauna ; however, it is limited to 

 140 of the 325 species found in Scandinavia, viz. fourteen Accipitres, 

 forty-four Passeres, three Gallinoe, twenty-six Grallse and fifty-one 

 Anseres. But what is wanting in variety of species is to a large extent 

 replaced by the number of individuals in some species. Thus, Corvus 

 corax (in the autumn), Alauda alpestris, Emberiza nivalis, Fringilla 

 linaria, Tetrao alpina and subalpina, Charadrius apricarius, Tringae, 

 Machetes pugnax, Lari, Anas glacialis, Stelleri and mollissima, Uriae 

 and Carbones are often found in large flocks ; and others, such as 

 thrushes, Motacilla borealis, pipits, Sylvia trochilus and succica, Frin- 

 gilla montifringilla, Charadrius hiaticula, Totanus calidris, &c, are scat- 

 tered all over where suitable localities are found. Thus Nature is not 

 so deserted as one could expect, and on the highest fells, where the 

 tranquillity is scarcely interrupted but by the piping notes of Emberiza 

 nivalis and the Saxicolas, and the shrill, melancholy cry of the golden 

 plover, one is emphatically reminded of the neighbourhood of the 

 Pole. 



It may be of interest and advantage to those naturalists who may 

 visit these regions to kuow the Finmark (Lapp.)* names of the birds, 



* In Norway the Lapps are called " Finner;" thus it might perhaps be as well to 

 call Finmark, Lapland ; but as both names can be used for thai part of the country, 

 I have kept to the Norwegian name. — //. E. D. 



