Notes on the Ornithology of Norway. 313 



the town of Drontheim, at an elevation of two or three feet only from 

 the ground. The house martin was the only species which was ob- 

 served beyond 65° north. 



Of the flycatchers we saw both the British species, though seldom. 



The whiterump and the whinchat were amongst the most nume- 

 rous of the small birds in those limited parts which are clear of 

 wood. 



We noticed also the redbreast, the redstart, and the blue-throat- 

 ed warbler, the sedge warbler, the blackcap, the white-throat, the 

 chifF chaff, and the willow wren, the latter upon the islands, as far 

 north as the Arctic Circle, from the coppices of which we were 

 sometimes delighted by its soft sweet song. The golden crested- 

 wren, the greater, blue, marsh, cole, and long-tailed titmice. Of the 

 wagtails, the pied and neglected. Of the larks, the skylark, and 

 of the pipits, the meadow, rock, and tree species. 



Of the buntings, the yellow, black-headed, and snow buntings. 

 The latter was in its beautiful summer plumage, of black and white. 

 We found a single nest with young under some loose stones. 



The house sparrow was very local, and confined to a few farm- 

 houses at a distance from each other. 



The chaffinch we saw throughout the whole of the inland district 

 which we traversed. The mountain finch at one place only, where 

 it was breeding. The siskin, the lesser redpole, and the green lin- 

 net seldom. The crossbill would now and then cross our road 

 through the forest, but in such rapid flight, that it required great 

 exertion to keep pace with them as they passed from tree to tree, 

 examining the cones of the pines. Of the parrot crossbill we obtain- 

 ed two specimens. 



Of the green woodpecker, we saw several near one of the church- 

 es, in the steeple of which (being of wood) they had bored several 

 holes in which to deposit their eggs. In two instances only the 

 great black woodpecker was seen at a distance, but so wild, that it 

 was impossible to approach it. 



The welcome sound of the cuckoo was seldom heard. 



The periodical visits of the grouse (Tetraonidse) to this country 

 are very interesting. In one year the ptarmigan, which comprises 

 two species, (Tetrao lagopus and saliceti,) and the black grouse 

 (T. tetrix) abound in amazing numbers, breed around the houses 

 of the natives, and are extremely tame. The next year probab- 

 ly they are scarcely to be met with, The season we were there 

 was unfortunately the year of scarcity ; and although we took infi- 

 nite pains, and used every exertion to obtain the ptarmigan, it was 



