256 



the close of March, but have left by the middle of May (recorded 

 by the proprietor, Mr. Irgens) A solitary individual has been ob- 

 served in East Finmark. 



Jæderen, near Stavanger (59°), has always been the chief habitat 

 of this species, the decrease in ifs numbers of late years being 

 attributable solely to the reckless manner in which the nests are 

 robbed of the eggs. Mr. Bahr, a genteman resident on the spot, 

 states that in one year from thrce to four tliousand eggs were 

 shipped to England from Egersund. 



Str ep silas inter pr es, Lin. 



Occurs scattered along the coast up to the Russian frontier. 

 In West Finmark, I found it in several localities on the shores of 

 the Porsangerfjord (Tamsø, Kistrand), here and there abundant. 



The last few years I have examined a considerable number 

 of the nests of this species, in particular on the coast of Namdalen, 

 in June 1871. They are mostly built under large stones orbeneath 

 broad-leaved plants (Archanyelica littoralis), or juniper bushes. 

 Several pair were generally found breeding close to one another. 

 The eggs — invariably 4 to the set — were quite fresh in 

 the middle of June. In the breeding-haunts, the birds exhibited 

 great alarm, but did not, like the Charadrii, feign to be wounded. 

 Incubation-spots are found in both sexes. The stomachs contained 

 small Coleoptera, the young of Litorina, small crustaceans, coarse 

 gravel, and scales of fishes, (swallowed perhaps accidentally). 



A clutch of eggs, in an advanced stage of incubation, were 

 hatched in the course of 48 hours, by exposing them to the moder- 

 ated heat of a spirit lamp. The young brood were a lively set, 

 skeltering about in the warm sunshine, as if to make the most of 

 their brief existcnce When the heat was excessive, they would 

 aften be suddenly paralysed, but soon recovered on being Uken 

 to a cooler spot, devouring with avidity the Hies 1 had collected 

 for their food. 



Youny in down, 2 — 3 days old, measured !)2 mm, total 

 length. Oolour of black grey, Blightlj washed with yellowish, and 

 sprinkled with tips of black. A narrowish black band, stretching 



