OBNITHOLOGICAL VISIT TO THE FJEBOES. 91 



in a day as were found of Whimbrel during the whole of our visit. 

 Not more than about a dozen nests were seen, half of which were 

 found by stalking and hard work. Covering, as we did, so many 

 miles in our daily rambles, it was perhaps rather surprising more 

 eggs were not found. The eggs were in all stages of incubation, 

 and there were a few young birds about. The nests were in- 

 variably placed under the shelter of a large stone — in one case 

 between two stones, so that it was possible to sit over the nest 

 without damaging the eggs. Variation in the eggs seen was 

 considerable, both in colour and markings, the ground colour 

 varying from pea-green to olive-green, and from pale brown to 

 dark brown. 



Akctic Tern (Sterna macrura). Native name, " Tedna." — 

 Seen on all islands visited. On June 17th we made our second 

 attempt to land on Hoivig Holm, a small island near Thorshavn, 

 and this time we were successful. We found a large colony of this 

 species breeding, but they had not finished laying, only a few 

 nests contained a full complement of eggs. On an average 

 the eggs were smaller than those of the Common Tern {Sterna 

 fluviatilis), and were somewhat richer in colour and markings. 

 A small colony were also found breeding on Nolso. 



Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus). Native name, 

 " Likka." — Found breeding on Sando in fair numbers ; incuba- 

 tion well advanced on June 13th. One nest on Stromo, with 

 two young and one egg chipping out, on June 16th. Nowhere 

 abundant. 



Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus). Native name, 

 " Svartbeakur." — Seen on several occasions, but did not find it 

 breeding. 



Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) . Native name, "Bida." — Seen 

 breeding in large numbers in company with Guillemot (Uria 

 troile), Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), &c, on the cliffs of Little 

 Dimon, Store Dimon, and Skuo, as we passed in the steamer on 

 the way from Sydero to Sando. Seen also in enormous flocks on 

 the lakes near Sand. 



Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes) . Native name, " Skuir." 

 — I am glad to be able to record the fact that this species still 

 breeds ; but only on one of the islands visited did we find it 

 breeding, in solitary pairs, on the tops of the mountains. On 



