456 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the blue-shaded distant ones, as against those darker ones nearer 

 at hand. We saw one Lemming {Myodus lemmus), and a dead 

 one. A few days before we had found them abundant near the 

 head of the Tromsdal, which skirts the FJoifjeld. We saw also 

 three Arctic Hares (Lepus variabilis). One was of a pale whitish 

 grey, head and ears darker and brownish ; the second was french- 

 grey, with white under parts ; the third much the same as the 

 first. Two were in rocky places, and both took up hill. The 

 other we were much interested in watching as it crossed a broad 

 snow-field below us (it was coming up). We had crossed it just 

 before, and the Hare passed to leeward of our tracks. As she 

 got parallel to them she became suspicious and sat, then went on 

 a little, when she got our wind, and, changing from the lopping 

 gallop, went on at a rare pace, but even then was not extended 

 ventre a terre like our Hare. I examined her tracks ; the fore 

 feet were set down more nearly parallel than those of our Hare, 

 but not quite parallel; the foot- prints were more than twice as 

 big as our Hare's, the toes were spread out, and each one 

 was marked distinctly in the snow. I picked up a foot and leg 

 on a fjeld on the west side of the Osterdal near Tonset ; the stiff 

 hairs on the foot between the toes were very long. There were 

 some Havens at the top, and a few Wheatears and Meadow Pipits. 

 My wife saw a Snow Bunting, but I did not; subsequent experi- 

 ence on Hammerfest, where we met with several, confirmed the 

 observation. As we were climbing to the top I saw above us a 

 Plover, so I made a detour, and came on a pair from behind some 

 rocks, on a level with and close to them. They were Dotterel, 

 and on rising uttered a single " whree " once or twice as they 

 flew. They were in a little shallow hollow clothed with the 

 usual plants, brightened with a beautiful patch of purple Saxi- 

 fraga oppositifolia, and sheltered from the north by rocks. Here 

 no doubt they intended to breed, but as they both went right 

 away, I suppose they had not begun nesting. I found Helix 

 arbustorum on the lowest (wooded) slopes of this fjeld, and at the 

 foot the most brilliant little blue gentian I ever saw. 



Mgialitis hiaticula. — Not uncommon round the shores of 

 Tromso; and on Grindo. 



Charadrius pluvialis. — A little flock of nine at Grindo were, 

 with the exception of two or three (very fair plumage, nearly 

 perfect), in poor summer dress. On the 22nd we saw three very 



