BIRDS OF IVIGTUT, 29 



sliore, then crossing the valley until they reached the moun- 

 tains. At the base of the hills they first began to rise in the 

 air, working upwards in spiral curves without any flapping 

 of wings, until abreast of the summit, when they sailed away 

 to the south. 



They are usually found almost everywhere ; soaring above 

 the fjord ; walking along the shore ; about the houses ; up 

 on the highlands, where no means of subsistence is appar- 

 ent, — even many miles in the interior, above the lifeless 

 mer-de-glace, 



I saw nests at different heights, ranging from twenty to 

 one thousand feet above sea-level, on inaccessible cliffs fac- 

 ing the fjord near Ivigtut. 



At Frederickshaab I obtained four sets of three to four 

 eggs each. These were taken between the 11th and the 

 28th of April. I think it builds among the earliest of any 

 species found in that region. On the 19th of June I saw 

 some full-fledged young close by the " bird-clifif," wliere the 

 parents most likely fed them. 



GREATER REDPOLL. 



ACANTHIS LmABIA BOSTBATA. 



The most numerous of the smaller birds found in the 

 vicinity of Ivigtut. In 1886 it was first observed on May 6, 

 and was common on May IT. On September 24 the major- 

 ity had migrated southward, though a few were met with 

 now and then during October. On the 26th of October, 

 when the country was covered with snow a foot deep, three 

 or four were seen, but none were seen during November. 

 On the 5th of December, however, one was discovered, and 

 on the 8th five or six appeared, and of the latter some vpore 

 red on the breast. On the following- day I saw two in the 



