8866 Natural-History Notes 
were blotched with red, in the way of the eggs of the missel thrush. 
Near Sande we counted forty-three nests, along the roadside, in about 
the space of two English miles. 
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla). In driving through the 
woods near Vossevangen, the peculiar note of a bird caught my ear: 
the carriole was instantly stopped, and with a Voigtliinder binocular 
I soon discovered whence it proceeded. A magnificent male bram- 
bling, with bis glossy black head and orange breast, was sitting on the 
uppermost twig of a tall spruce fir. I watched the bird attentively for 
some minutes, and noticed when he uttered his harsh, grating note, 
closely resembling that of the greenfinch, that his back was suddenly 
elevated and the head jerked forward. We shot several specimens in 
full summer plumage, and managed to preserve them tolerably well, 
by pouring a few drops of creosote down the throat, and a like quantity 
into the vent. No one, having seen this bird in the winter garb only, 
can conceive the beauty of the shining blue-black head and neck 
during the summer months. Being anxious to obtain the nest and 
eggs of this bird, we searched diligently, but unfortunately were too 
late in the season. Several nests were found, seven in one day’s stroll, 
near Sande. All contained either young ones, or these had already 
flown. The nests were beautiful structures, closely resembling those 
of the chaffinch, and were mostly built in alders and pines. 
Sandpipers. It was near Sande that, while looking for a sandpiper’s 
nest, I saw the old bird alight on the branch of an alder tree, and coolly 
watch my fruitless search. Sandpipers and water ouzels are very 
plentiful on all the brawling streams, but I suspect the nests are 
difficult to find. 
In the woods near Vossevangen we saw many siskins, crossbills, 
pied flycatchers, nuthatches and a green woodpecker, which we 
secured with a rifle loaded with shot. This we had borrowed of the 
landlord at Vossevangen. 
Ants. Thronghout the wooded districts of Norway the gigantic 
nests of a formidable species of ant are met with. I have seen them, 
in many instances, as much as from four to five feet high, and composed 
externally of pine needles. The interior was not disturbed further 
than by thrusting a stick into the centre. The strong pungent smell 
of formic acid became then very perceptible: frequently I have been 
compelled to beat a hasty retreat from these pugnacious fellows. 
Magpies. Throughout Norway the magpie is certainly the bird 
most frequently noticed: on the roadside their enormous nests, con- 
sisting of whole barrowsfull of sticks, were frequently noticed, pro- 
