257 



along the crown of the head, reaches down on the forehead, but 

 not entirely to the bill. A similar stripe extends from the upper 

 mandible to the eye, and there is a black spot at the gape. Sides 

 of throat grey, belly white. Wings and scapulars coloured as back. 



Young in doivn, about 8 days old, had become imperceptibly 

 lighter; the down on the nape was a greyish white, the crown of 

 the head having a considerable mixture of black, bill greyish black. 



Several individuals are every year found passing the winter in 

 small flocks on the western coast of the country. In 1872, 

 individuals were seen at several places, up to Froøerne (64°); in 

 1873 some were also shot at Molde, by Mr. Kaurin, Febr. Ist, in 

 company with Tringa maritima. 



Hæmatopus ostralegus, Lin. 



Occurs probably on every island and large holm along the 

 whole coastal line; it was observed even at Stappen, close to the 

 North Cape, the 26th June 1872. A few pair were found breeding 

 at the northern extremity of Magerøen, on the banks of the meres. 

 Detachments of this species, consisting of immature individuals, 

 are everywhere to be seen in the breeding-season. 



The eggs repose on a layer of small pebbles or fragments of 

 muscle-shells ; this, however, is not invariably the case, as was 

 seen in a nest found at Tjøttø, on the 15th July. Mr. Schiibeler 

 found a nest, most remarkably located, on Inderøen, near the 

 Trondhjemsfjord, in June 1872; it was built in a cavity at the 

 top of a felled pine-tree. Even when able to fly, the young birds 

 lie exceedingly close, and are flushed with the greatest difficulty. 

 The old birds display the greatest anxiety for theirbrood, feigning 

 to have their wings paralysed, precisely as do the Charadrius and 

 Totanus, and I have often seen them plunge fearlessly into water, 

 and swim about with astonishing facility. The young are often seen 

 close to the shore, sporting and diving like young ducklings. 

 In the stomachs of young, I found diverse species of molluscs, 

 particularly Litorinæ, also the larvæ and pupæ of Noctuæ. 



Young in down, about 2 days old. (Tarsus 22 mm, culmen 19 mm). 

 The colour of the back is a mixture of black and dusky grey, 



Vidensk.-Selsk. Forh. 1872. 17 



