243 



This, too, is the first time the bird is found mentioned by a 

 native author. 



In 1823, an individual was described by Pastor Sommenfelt 1 

 (afterwards rector of the parish of Saltdalen) in the „Mag. f. Naturv." 

 Ist Series, Vol. 2. This individual, also procured from a district 

 bordering on the Mjøsen (Toten), was a male in summer plumage. 

 The brief description (transcribed below) is, I believe, the only 

 one that has ever been given of a true summer specimen. 



The first individual preserved in any Norwegian Collection 

 was a male in winter dress ; it was sent to Professor Esmark from 

 Røraas, in 1837. 



In the course of the next 30 years not more than half a dozen 

 individuals are known to have been observed; they were all males 

 procured from the south of the country (Christians and Stift, Ber- 

 gen Stift, Hamar Stift). 



From 1870 — 73 the University Museum has been so fortunate 

 as to obtain 6 new specimens, but all male birds. One of them was 

 a young individual in autumn plumage, the restbeingin the normal 

 winter garb. Five were procured from the south eastern tracts 

 of the interior (Gudbrandsdalen, Østerdalen); the remaining bird 

 was shot in Saltdalen (65° nearly), north of the Polar Circle, the 

 most northerly point at which it is known to have occurred (the 

 skeleton only of this individual is preserved). 



No female of this hybrid has hitherto, I believe, been met 

 With in Norway. 



Of the habits of the Rypeorre scarcely anything is known from 

 Norway. Of 6 individuals which I have had an opportunity of exam- 

 ining the last few years in the flesh, 5 had evidently been caught in 

 snares set for ptarmigan. Now, most of such snares being set on the 

 fell-sides in the birch belt (on the southern fells from 2500 to 

 3500' a. 1. s.), it would seem to be a resident at the same altitude 

 as its male parent (Lagopus). The sixth individual was transmitted 

 from Saltdalen, in Nordland, by Mr. Berbom, who had killed it in winter, 

 amongst ptarmigan. Here, the locality was a mountain ridge, covered 



1 Son of the last mentioned gentleman. 



16* 



