140 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



and pine grosbeak in summer dress. On June 15th 

 the sun rose 40 minutes after 12 at night, and set 

 at 22 minutes after 11, and by my Lap almanac, 

 seems never to set again till the 28th. 



By the beginning of July the egg season was 

 over — in fact, most of the birds had young, and it 

 was only the very early breeding birds which we 

 shot ; as it is an act of the greatest cruelty now, 

 to shoot an old bird when there is a chance that the 

 unfledged young are dependent upon her for their 

 food. Although perhaps no collector, let his pur- 

 suit be what it may, can be altogether free from 

 the imputation of cruelty, there are many needless 

 acts of cruelty which he can avoid ; and if he can 

 content himself only with taking the eggs from a 

 nest, and makes it a rule never to shoot a bird 

 unless he really wants it, his pursuit is far more 

 harmless and innocent than many others which 

 man indulges in only to gratify his love of sport. 



For about six weeks in June and July the rays 

 of the setting sun might be seen gilding the fell 

 tops during the whole night. The hottest weather 

 was in July, and often at midday I saw the ther- 

 mometer in the sun as high as 3 5° Celsius (95°Fahr.) 

 The priest told me that in winter he has seen the 

 glass as low as 45° below zero Celsius (49° below 

 zero Fahr.) But the nights were always cold, and 

 I believe every night there was a frost on the fells. 



