OBNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORWAY. 65 



One passed over our boat off the southern end of Tromso Island 

 on the 14th. Three days later, when in the ' Lyngen ' off 

 Dybvik, one flew over, and we saw another early next morning 

 at Skjervo. On the 24th, in a glen behind Svolvaer above the 

 head of the lake, we again heard the shrill note of the Merlin. 

 There appeared to be a whole family of them amongst the birches 

 which covered the lower slopes of the grey granite peaks. 



Haliaetus albicilla. — On July 19th we saw a White-tailed 

 Eagle on the far side of Tromso Island. It was mobbed by 

 Gulls. 



Lagopus albus. — A first meeting with the Willow- Grouse 

 during a walk through the birch woods at Tromso on July 12th 

 served to remind us that we were in northern latitudes. The 

 white wings and white-tipped tail render it a much more showy 

 bird than our own. A pair fluttered up out of the willow-scrub, 

 pitched again, ran with their heads down, and scuffled in great 

 excitement, as six or eight " cheepers '" got up one after another, 

 flew weakly, and dropped again into cover. On the 1 9th, at the 

 spot from which a pair rose, we found a young one with its leg 

 broken. It had probably been attacked by a Gull. The same 

 day, in coming down from the higher part of the island over a 

 bank deep in crowberry, we put up another pair with about 

 thirteen cheepers, some of which flew, while others skulked. 

 Several old birds and another brood were seen on Skjervo. 

 When there were young, the tumbling and fluttering performance 

 always occurred. On the 25th we climbed one of the peaks in 

 the neighbourhood of Svolvaer. At about 1800 ft., while still 

 struggling through the fern, something white appeared to fall 

 from near our feet. It was a Willow Grouse tumbling down the 

 hill-side. Two cheepers flew. 



Numenius arquata. — The Curlew was sometimes heard about 

 muddy or sandy shores, as at Lyngseidet on the 17th. On the 

 20th, when we landed on the large island of Kvalo, it appeared 

 to be breeding on the moors in company with Golden Plover. 



N. phceopus. — We heard the Whimbrel's rippling note coming 

 from the muddy shore at Lyngseidet, where it was feeding in 

 company with Curlews and Oystercatchers. 



Totanus calidris. — Redshanks seemed to prefer the far side of 

 Tromso Island, where they piped excitedly or ran amongst the 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. III., February, 1899. f 



