84 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



for the nests, it was astonishing that more were not found. One 

 nest on Sando contained young on June 12th, and was beautifully- 

 concealed in a hole behind a large stone. Found several empty 

 shells about, which was evidence that incubation was complete. 

 No opportunity was offered of seeing the large broods attributed 

 to this species in these islands. 



Northern Wren {Troglodytes borealis). Native name, 

 " Mousabrouir." — We can fully endorse the remarks of Col. 

 Feilden in regard to the song of this lively little bird. It would, 

 indeed, not be out of place to call it the Fseroese Nightingale, so 

 much do some of the notes resemble not only in melody but in 

 power the song of Daulias luscinia. It is almost impossible to 

 believe that so powerful a song could come from so small a bird ; 

 it is quite unlike that of our Common Wren {T. parvulus). 

 Though heard on four of the islands visited, it was seldom that 

 we had a good view of the birds, as they were generally high 

 above our heads on the cliffs or mountain sides. The only 

 opportunity I had of a close inspection was at Skaalevig, while 

 we were waiting for the carriers to take our luggage over the 

 mountains to Sando. We had started a close inspection of the 

 boat-sheds and outhouses, when out flew a small bird through 

 the entrance. It flew about ten yards, and settled on a large 

 stone. After examining for some time with our glasses, we 

 identified the bird as T. borealis. It did not require a very long 

 search before the nest was found — a conspicuously bulky struc- 

 ture, though compact and well built, of straw, lined with moss 

 and feathers. It contained five newly-hatched young. The 

 hole was placed almost on the top, and the nest was tightly 

 wedged in between the beam and the thatch. As our porters 

 had arrived, we had no further time to watch this interesting 

 species, though from what we saw I consider the bird very 

 different from T. parvulus. It was much larger and paler in 

 colour. While staying at Sand we had two eggs brought to us ; 

 they are considerably larger than the eggs of T. parvulus, and 

 larger than those of the much disputed St. Kilda Wren (T. hir- 

 tensis). One egg is slightly larger, and the other the same size 

 as typical eggs of the Tree- Sparrow (P. montanus), and are 

 only slightly marked at the large end with fine faint red spots. 

 These eggs are now in my collection. 



