267 



bourhood of Fokstuen, on the Dovre, (3100' a. 1. s.); hence the 

 spedes belongs to the division of the Finmark avifauna sta- 

 tionary in these southern latitudes (62°). Probably a few pairs 

 breed on the Jotun-fells and in the adjacent tracts, individual s 

 having been shot there in summer; in the lower parts of the 

 countrv it is not known to breed with certainty. 



Tlie females, too, vary considerably both in size and in the 

 coloration of their summer plumage. Of two rndividuals shot on 

 the Dovre, June 9th 1872, the tarsus in one measured from 43 to 

 44 mm, and was light-brown in colour; in the other, it was 39 mm, 

 and dark-brown. The stomachs of these individuals contained Lum- 

 tirieij the larvæ of divers insects, and gravel; those of individuals 

 shot near Christiania on the autumnal passage, 1870, were filled 

 exclusively with the seeds of a sea-shore plant. Most of the Wa- 

 ders that frequent the southern lowlands on their autumn passage 

 would appear to subsist partly on vegetable food. 



Ph a 1 a r op u s k yp erboreus, Lath. 



Common in grassy spots in pools of water throughout the 

 whole of West Finmark, both on the islands and the mainland, 

 and in particular near the sea. It has not been observed in the 

 deep mountain meres. 



South of Finmark, it breeds more or less abundantly, even in 

 the extreme coastal districts of Nordland. A small colony of this 

 species is stationary on the southern fells (Dovre, Langfj eldene, 

 62°). In the winter months, it occurs in the southern fjords. 



This bird is not at all shy; it leaves the water with great 

 Facility, into whieh it again plunges. swimming about with nod- 

 ding head. All the males examined had incubation-spots. In 

 the stomachs I found the larvæ of Phryganea and other aquatic 

 insects. The total length of the males varied from 172 to 178 mm. 



Half-fledged young (Alten 17th July : head and throat only 

 covered with down, the dorsal and ventral plumes having downy 

 tips). Culmen 19 mm, tarsus 20 mm. Throat, flanks and the trans- 

 verse band on the breast, brown blended with grey. The crown 

 of the head, which in the middle is plumed, black, and encircled 



