NOTES FROM NORWAY. 23 



of the previous year retaining the black markings on the neck. 

 This also was the case at Hjelmso, where two cannon were fired 

 under the cliff, and instantly on all sides, and across our deck, 

 the air was cut by the passage of countless birds all rushing out 

 to sea; Guillemots, Kazorbills, Puffins, Black Guillemots, Cor- 

 morants, and thousands of Kittiwakes ; high aloft, above the excited 

 throng, floated a large Buzzard, probably Buteo lagopus, the only 

 bird of prey I saw inNorway. The sea was covered with the young 

 of Guillemots and Razorbills unable to fly, and our slowly revolving 

 screw I thought must have destroyed several as we steamed at slow 

 speed in front of the black mural precipices on whose ledges the 

 little swimmers first saw the light of the arctic summer. On many 

 of the low flat holms on the coast the Gulls of various species ap- 

 peared to be nesting by hundreds, with swarms of young grey birds 

 running about the rocks, but none able, as yet, to use their wings. 

 In most cases probably the first eggs from two layings had been 

 taken. The pretty Black Guillemot, in pairs, is one of the com- 

 monest sea-birds on the coast. I never saw a Gannet, the 

 Fulmar, Great Skua, or a Shearwater. Several Pomatorhine 

 Skuas, especially north of the Circle and in the Lofotens; 

 Richardson's and Buffon's Skuas were both exceedingly plen- 

 tiful. Much amusement was afforded on board the ' Neptune' by 

 watching these pirates chasing and bullying their neighbours, 

 descending swiftly and striking the unfortunate victim on the 

 back till he had paid toll by disgorging his honestly-earned meal. 

 I always thought a Gull on the water was safe from their 

 attacks, but this was not the case. Two beautiful adult long- 

 tailed Buffon's Skuas made a most determined attack on a Lesser 

 Black-back on the water. The Gull screamed his best, but 

 the persecutors never desisted till they had gained their point. 

 Both the smaller Skuas were very abundant between the Cape 

 and Vardo in the Arctic Ocean, being constantly in sight 

 on these wilderness waters. Both the Cormorant and Shag 

 are common, the latter especially. I never saw so many 

 Shags in one day as I saw in the Jarfjord east of the Varanger, 

 and touching the Russian frontier. They sat on the rocks 

 in lines and groups, slowly beating their expanded wings, like 

 so many old ladies in dark shot-silL dresses fanning in a hot 

 ball-room. 



