404 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



except during rain or fog, when the cold penetrates almost to 

 one's marrow. My health was almost extravagantly good ; better 

 than it had been for many years previously. 



This was my maiden effort at exploration away from our own 

 shores. The following pages will show how successful it was. 



The Icelandic names of the birds are placed in brackets. I 

 haye taken them from Grondal's ' Skyrsla ' (Sk^rsla, un hid 

 Islenzka natturnfrsedisfelag, arid 1894-1895. Reykjavik, 1895). 

 This, I consider, better than trusting to the spelling of the names 

 given to me by the inhabitants. 



Redwing, Tardus iliacus. (Skogarprosfcur). — Fairly abundant in 

 the districts where birch-scrub abounds. Very wild ; more so, in fact, 

 than they are with us during the winter. I was utterly disappointed 

 with the song ; it is the wealiest, shortest, and most unmusical song I 

 have ever heard from a Thrush, and I could not believe that I was 

 listening to one until I located the bird with my glasses. My speci- 

 mens differ in plumage from any other Redwings I have ever seen, 

 and are in Dr. Bowdler Sharpe's hands for determination. I pro- 

 cured adult male and female, nest and eggs, and nest with five young 

 just hatched. 



Wheateak, Saxicula cenanthe. (Steindepill). — The small dull- 

 coloured race. Plentiful in all districts I visited. I got adult male 

 and female, and young in first and second stages. 



Iceland When, Tror/loJytes borealis. (Musarrindill). — I saw this 

 bird once only, and then it was like a mouse gliding into the scrub. 

 All Icelanders knew the bird by name, but very few had ever seen it.* 

 That name was invariably "musarrindill "; I never heard it called by 

 any other in the north. The Rev. H. H. Slater, in his recently pub- 

 lished ' Manual of the Birds of Iceland,' curiously enough, has never 

 heard this name used, notwithstanding his fifteen years' experience in 

 Iceland. Musarrindill means " Mouse-bird." 



White Wagtail, Motacilla alba. (Mariu-erla, &c.). — Common 

 almost everywhere, and the only species of Wagtail to be found in Ice- 

 land. I procured a perfect series : adult males and females ; first, second, 

 third, and fourth stages of the young ; the change from summer to 

 winter plumage ; nest and young ; nest and eggs ; and, a great rarity — 

 nest with white eggs. 



* As a roatter of fact, throughout all my wanderings I made incessant 

 inquiries, but only found one shepherd-boy who had ever actually seen the 

 bird, and that was near where I saw my solitary specimen. 



