ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF LAPLAND. 295 



the nests of the Lap bunting, blue-throated warbler, 

 broad-billed sandpiper, Temminck's stint, wood 

 sandpiper, phalarope, scaup duck, and long-tailed 

 duck. If we had only pitched our tent in this fell 

 meadow for a month, no telling what varieties we 

 should have met with. Independently of this, it was 

 one of the sweetest spots that could well be imagined 

 — a real oasis in the desert ; and I never enjoyed 

 a summer ramble as I did in this wild tract. 

 There are certain circumstances in life, as well as 

 places, which leave too lasting an impression on 

 the mind ever to be obliterated, and this fell 

 meadow forms one of the brightest flowers in the 

 field of memory as regards my Lapland journey. 



When I first searched this spot I was attracted 

 by a soft loud pipe, very much resembling the call 

 of the golden plover, but fainter. I was certain, 

 however, it was not that, for it seemed to oome 

 from the low ground, and in the evening was all 

 round me. It was long before I could make it 

 out, for I never could see the bird, till at last one 

 rose. I shot it on the wing, and it was a male 

 Lap bunting. The mystery was solved, and we 

 had no difficulty now in finding the nest, which was 

 never far off. I soon became more familiar with 

 their habits. The female rarely rises, except you 

 tread close to the nest, but runs away on the 

 ground much like the pipit. The male sits on a 



