Birds. 3023 



nerves in connexion with the muscles for the contraction of the skin, to he greatly 

 diseased. Query, did not this account for the loss of colour in the spines ?—J. O. 

 Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850. 



Notes on Observations in Natural History during a Tour in Norway. 

 By the Rev. Alfred Charles Smith, M.A. 



(Continued from page 2982). 



The Summer Snipe (Totanus hypoleucos). One of the commonest 

 species of birds to be seen in Norway during the summer months, is 

 the summer snipe : you may see them by every mountain stream, on 

 the banks of every inland lake, and even on the shores of the fjords. 

 If wandering quietly by the water-side, I was sure to have an oppor- 

 tunity of watching their elegant motion, unobserved : now they are 

 running on the soft sand, over which the rippling water has just 

 strength left to curl, jerking their tails up and down, and stretching out 

 their necks : now they are standing on some inland stone, motionless 

 and quiet : now as your advancing form meets their eyes, away they 

 skim over the water, their short wings outstretched, and uttering their 

 peculiar note. I once fell in with the young of this bird in some 

 numbers : I had been visiting the beautiful waterfall of Hone-fos, and, 

 hearing that some miles higher up the river made two still greater 

 plunges, had followed its course through a glorious forest, the tremen- 

 dous roar of the river, as it dashed down the fall, and the clouds of 

 spray which rose far above the trees, giving unmistakeable proofs that 

 I had not been deceived. After watching the rushing, boiling, foam- 

 ing water, as it was hurled into the abyss below, till my eyes ached, 

 and I was half stunned with the noise, I followed the course of the 

 river higher up for some distance : here the river was broad, deep, 

 clear and quiet, flowing calmly on through the silent forest, as if col- 

 lecting its strength and preparing for the toil and turmoil into which 

 it must soon be dashed : the contrast, indeed, was great ; and so re- 

 freshing and inviting did it look, that I threw down my gun, and was 

 soon swimming about in the clear water ; but though the day was very 

 hot, and the sun had great power, the water was so intensely cold, that 

 I was quickly on the bank again. I had noticed the great numbers of 

 summer snipes, which were flitting across the river and uttering their 

 piping notes from both banks, and I had been a good deal surprised 

 to see them sometimes extending their flight in amongst the trees, and 

 now and then even perching on the tops of the young larches. Whilst 



