128 THE OENITHOLOGIST. 



Arctic Tern (Sterna ynacrura). — These birds were extremely 

 bold when their young were about. I have stood by their nest 

 whilst the old birds actually struck me on the head so smartly 

 that I could feel the blow through the cloth cap I wore at the 

 time. 



Richardson's Skua (Stercorarius crepidatus). — Not so 

 plentiful, but very destructive to the eggs of the other birds. 

 I found one nest with two eggs — it was merely a slight hollow 

 lined with a little grass and leaves ; the ground chosen was a 

 small hillock rising out of the surrounding marsh. The old 

 birds were very clamorous, almost brushing me at times with 

 their wings, then fluttering along the ground as if unable to fly, 

 and uttering their peculiar mewing cry. Whenever I saw this 

 Skua flying in pairs, one was a dark and the other a light bird. 



Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis). — Eather scarce, 

 there might have been half a dozen pairs breeding about the 

 small lakes ; I managed to secure four eggs. 



Bed-throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis). — Commoner 

 than the last, and breeding in similar situations. I was fortu- 

 nate in taking both eggs and young ; the latter are covered with 

 thick down, dark grey in colour ; they can swim and dive as 

 soon as hatched. Both this and the following bird carry the 

 young on their back when any danger threatens them. 



Sclavonian Grebe (Podicipes auritus). — Common upon 

 every sheet of water ; the birds looked very handsome in their 

 breeding plumage, and were wonderfully tame, sitting upon 

 their nests until I could almost reach them with the gun 

 barrel. The nests resembled those of the Little Grebe, but 

 about twice the size ; eggs three to six in number, and carefully 

 covered over when the birds were absent from the nest. 



Although I had occasionally seen the Iceland Falcon (Falco 

 islandus), it was not until a few days prior to my departure 

 that I obtained certain information of a pair having their 

 young in a mountain, about two hours' ride to the west. 



Four of us started on this expedition — Dr. Biemscheider, 

 from Bussia, Mr. Chas. Jefferys, of Tenby, an Icelandic priest, 

 and myself. We rode over to the farmer who rented the land, 

 to obtain permission to take the Falcons, and also to borrow 

 ropes and a bag ; these were obtained and we set out again, 



