408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



cliff climbing, and very different to being comfortably lowered down a 

 cliff by ropes. On the top there was only just room to move about, 

 and to look into the eyrie I had to lay flat down, with two natives 

 firmly clutching my legs to prevent me falling over the dizzy height. I 

 was attacked by the parent birds, but secured the four big fluffy-white 

 screaming young. It was a magnificent experience. I also shot adult 

 females, and female in first plumage. I could have brought back 

 more, but refrained from doing so. 



Merlin, F. asalon. (Smirill.) — Plentiful in many districts. Very 

 bold. I saw some remarkable scenes between this bird and the Arctic 

 Tern. I did not procure any specimens, as my series of this bird at 

 home is complete. I have regretted, however, since my return, that 

 1 did not procure specimens of all the different kinds of birds I saw. 



Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carlo. (Dilaskarfur.) — Common round 

 those parts of the coast I visited. 



Shag, P. fjraculns. (Toppskarfur.) — These also were plentiful in 

 some parts. 



Gannet, f^ula hassana. (Siila hafsvila.) — Common, but I did not 

 visit any of the breeding haunts. 



Greylag Goose, Anser cinereus. (Gragoes.) — There has been so 

 much confusion and uncertainty as to the species of Wild Goose 

 breeding in Iceland, and the situation of the breeding haunt, that I am 

 very pleased to be able to increase our knowledge on the subject. Shep- 

 herd's great journey in 1862 was undertaken chiefly with the object of 

 settling this problem, but he totally failed, as have others who followed 

 him, excepting the Brothers Pearson."^' Groudal asserted that the breed- 

 ing bird was the Bean-Goose, and all eggs which have been sent to 

 England from Iceland were said to be those of Anser serjetnin. The Rev. 

 H. H. Slater, in the book before cited, suggests that the breeding haunt 

 would eventually be found in the desert interior, and kindly offers, in 

 1901, to render any assistance he can to anyone who will brave the 

 personal discomforts and expense of a summer in exploring the 

 Skjalfandafljot River. I braved all these discomforts in 1899, and 

 ascended the river from its mouth at Husavick to the breeding haunt, 

 and that journey furnished some of the most interesting adventures 

 throughout my wanderings. The breeding haunt is not in the interior, 

 but is below Goda-foss. The situation is most remarkable, and is prac- 

 tically inaccessible, save to the farmer who lives nearest to it, and who 

 alone can guide the traveller in safety. Well below Goda-foss the 

 river bifurcates ; one portion falling over vast chffs, and forming the 

 grand faUs of Ullar-foss ; the other the equally beautiful falls of Barna- 

 - ' Ibis,' 1895, p. 237. 



