Birds. 8937 
south-eastern sea. As he strives to ascertain the source of some 
secluded hot-spring, which in more accessible districts would outrival 
Buxton or Aix, he may perhaps catch a glimpse of a water rail creeping 
stealthily through the luxuriant herbage. At almost any of the 
numerous pools’ throughout the country, the rednecked phalarope 
is to be seen busily seeking its food round the margin, or, like a graceful 
Naiad, reposing quietly on the smooth surface in the softened glow 
of the northern midnight. Here, on a patch of semi-natant bog-bean, 
the weird-looking horned grebe piles a mass of water-weeds, dragged 
from the muddy bottom, whereon to deposit its chalky eggs; while 
overhead a swarm of arctic terns assail the wayfarer’s ears with their 
shrill shrieks, and, should he stop to examine one of the mottled living 
powder-puffs he finds crouching in the grass, almost threatens his eyes 
with their sharp beaks. 
On some wide lake or far-receding fjord, a single northern diver may 
be descried, spirit-like, disappearing and reappearing almost without 
causing a ripple, until, having finished his fishing, he flaps heavily 
along the surface, leaving a wake like that of a steamer, and then, 
mounting to a vast height, finally vanishes in quest of his mate, whom 
he left brooding her dingy eggs far beyond the rocky ridge, to cross 
which would cost us two hours’ hard work; while, long after he is out 
of sight, his wild scream, like a cry of human agony, reaches us, 
and jars our feelings by its discord with the placid scene so lately 
before us. 
Where the stream rushes fastest and foams most furiously over its 
stony bed there is the home of the quaintly-marked and yet beautiful 
harlequin duck, so rare a visitant to other parts of Europe. To the 
upland tarn resorts the longtailed duck, while the teal, the widgeon, 
and the pintail frequent the less bleak lakes, on the islands of which, 
secure from the ravages of the arctic fox (the only beast of prey in the 
country), they rear their young, in company with the scoter, the scaup 
and the Icelandic goldeneye. On yonder grassy plains, intersected by 
the innumerable rivers that spring from those distant jékuls of eternal 
ice, there yet assemble (but not, alas! in numbers as of yore) a goodly 
company of wild swans. There they make their domestic arrange- 
ments, proclaiming their completion with the glorious sound of the 
trumpet. There they lay their elephantine eggs; and there—O joyful 
moment !—they lead forth their infant train, too often, indeed, only to 
suffer capture and death at the hands of the neighbouring peasants, 
or, if they survive these casualties, to fall the victims of southern 
gunners. 
VOL. XXII. 5 
