OKNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FKOM ICELAND. 127 



Goldeneye (Clang ula glaucion). — Common ; breeds in holes 

 and in the shelters put up for the sheep. 



Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis). — Almost, if not 

 quite, as common as the Scaup. According to the natives, one 

 female will take charge of two or three broods of ducklings 

 soon after they are hatched, and bring them up as her own. 



Harlequin Duck (Cosmonetta histrionica) . — This beautiful 

 duck is never seen on the lake, but breeds abundantly along the 

 shores of the Laxa, the river running from the lake ; from this 

 peculiarity the natives call it the " Stream Duck." 



Scoter (CEdemia nigra). — Common. 



Goosander (Mergus merganser). — I never saw this bird, but 

 had a few of their eggs brought to me. 



Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). — Very common. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). — Abundant on all 

 the moors ; I frequently disturbed flocks of more than a hun- 

 dred, which did not appear to be breeding, although in full 

 breeding plumage. 



Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) . — This was 

 the commonest bird I saw ; they were there in thousands, the 

 eggs in all stages of incubation, and young ones from a day to 

 nine days old. 



A slight hollow in the ground, lined with a few blades of 

 grass, is all that is done in the way of nest building ; in it are 

 deposited four eggs, varying a great deal in markings, but easily 

 recognisable ; they are generally placed near water. The old 

 birds were remarkably tame, running and swimming within a 

 yard of my feet. 



Common Snipe (Gallinago cmlestris). — I was first made 

 acquainted with the presence of this bird by hearing it " drum- 

 ming " overhead, and afterwards had several of their eggs 

 brought to me ; it did not, however, appear to be common. 



Dunlin (Tringa alpina). — Abundant over all the moors. 



Red-shank (Totanus calidris). — Common in the marshes; 

 eggs very difficult to find. 



Curlew (Numenius arquata). — Common. 



Whimbrel (Numenius phoeopus). — More common than the 

 last, the eggs of both these birds were very hard to find. The 

 Whimbrel prefers the marshy ground, laying her eggs upon one 

 of the numerous hillocks rising above the water. 



