Notes on Birds in Icela?id.



223



spectacle when flying up and down over the torrent-like rivers or

settling on the banks. They seem to prefer fast running water.

At the same time one may see the old ducks piloting fleets of

young ones in a wonderful way 011 the edge of the rapids.


I cannot find from enquiry that the Harlequin Duck has

ever been kept in captivity or semi-captivity in this country.

The drakes are most exquisitely beautiful birds and if no serious

attempt to keep them has been made it surely would be worth

while for some expert to try. Probably the food would be the

main difficulty though some birds have great capacity for chang¬

ing their food. Can anyone speak as to the Harlequin Duck?

Possibly the best way of attempting the matter would be to bring

over fresh eggs to hatch here. If so, I may mention, as a personal

note, that I am starting in the second week in June for the

neighbourhood of Myvatn, in the North of Iceland, where

Harlequin Ducks nest and I would gladly try to bring back some

fresh eggs with me in July if any member of the Avicultural

Society, who is an expert with wild fowl, would care to make the

attempt to hatch and rear the birds in the interests of

aviculture.


I have been told that I have twice seen the “ great” or

“ solitary ” Snipe in an Icelandic “forest,” though I must say

that I thought the bird was in each case a Woodcock. How¬

ever there are said to be no Woodcock in Iceland. The Common

Snipe is not so plentiful as one would expect even in suitable

localities.


The Icelandic Grouse now exists in sadly diminished

numbers. These birds, even in the South, in August often show

a good deal of white in the plumage. Whether these grouse

could be successfully kept in England is an interesting question.

Perhaps some game expert will give his views.* 1


Golden Plover breed in Iceland in immense numbers, but I

have never seen the Grey Plover. It is curious to note that the

Golden Plover always settle on the home-field of an Icelandic

Farm in preference to open moorland. I suppose they find more

food. In August they are absurdly tame. The Ringed Plover is



* The grouse of Iceland is the rufous form of the Ptarmigan known as the Rock-

Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupesiris) —K. G. B. M.-W.



