28 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



after the fashion that easy-going people pass through life — in a 

 sort of jelly-fish existence. 



There are excellent museums at Tromso and Trondhjem, and 

 a most interesting one at Bergen ; and, from an ornithological 

 point of view, particularly rich in game-birds, hybrids, and various 

 plumages — one a hybrid between the Black Grouse and Caper- 

 cailzie. I particularly noticed many most beautiful varieties of 

 Turdus pilaris ; a nest of Garrulus infaustus, built of twigs of fir 

 and red hair-like lichens, exactly matching the colour of the 

 sitting bird ; a beautiful compact well-built nest and eggs of 

 Hypola'is icterina ; a specimen of the Ruddy Sheldrake, labelled 

 11 Skudesnses, 12 x. 92"; the American Surf-scoter, (Edemia per- 

 spicillata, Hjellefjord, Sept. 23rd, 1893, a fine adult male. There 

 is a good collection also of Viking remains and stone implements, 

 which will well repay inspection. 



The Bergen Fish-market is a great feature of the town, the 

 smaller fish being kept alive in wooden tanks with a constant 

 stream of salt water passing through ; the fish are ladled out 

 with hand-nets to purchasers. Here I saw examples of the 

 Tadpole-fish or Lesser Fork-beard, about fourteen inches long, 

 and of a deep brown colour; also two richly-coloured Wrasse — the 

 Blue-striped and the Ballan Wrasse — and the brilliant Bergylt, 

 the so-called Norway Haddock. 



One, if not the chief, industry of Norway is the fishing trade. 

 The Lofoten fishery employs 8000 boats and 30,000 men ; the 

 take in 1895 was thirty-nine millions of Cod, in 1896 about 

 twenty-one millions. 



As the ornithologist on board the * Neptune,' I cannot think 

 our voyage to the Arctic Seas was a very remarkable one, as few 

 except marine and shore birds were observed. Botanically, 

 however, considering the lateness of the season, we did very 

 well, and brought back many interesting plants from the tundra 

 north of Vadso. Eight of these shrubs and plants of the tundra 

 bear fruit in the greatest profusion ; the berries remain sweet and 

 uninjured below the snows of winter, and in the spring supply the 

 migrating birds with an inexhaustible supply of food. 



