140 
WILD NORWAY. 
This was an Ortolan, whose young were fledged though 
still unable to fly, and we caught one for examination. 
The lower parts were bright sulphur-yellow; breast 
yellow, but streaked with brown. The back brown, 
streaked longitudinally with a darker shade. The 
ortolan, in its gait, as above remarked, is more of a 
lark or a pipit than a bunting, and it evidently breeds 
very early. In this instance, the eggs must have been 
laid very soon in May, and perhaps in April. After 
a little watching it became very cautious, and evidently 
conveyed its suspicions to its offspring, for they, too, 
became quite silent.” 
Another characteristic bird was the Icterine warbler. 
We first observed it on June 2nd. The day had been 
drenching wet, but cleared towards evening. We were 
then hurrying homewards, to get to our respective beats 
on the river, when the lovely song of this warbler struck 
on our ears. For a moment we wondered if it could 
be a thrush, but no : such a flow of mingled melody 
never poured from a throstle’s throat. For five minutes 
more we listened in rapt attention and admiration, 
wondering what it could be, and turning over in our 
minds the whole list of European songsters. “ Melodious 
willow-wren ? ” suggested one. “ Well, if there’s a bird 
of that name,” replied another-, “ that must be it!” 
And so it proved to be. The blue-throated warbler is 
bad to beat, and hitherto we had given it the palm as 
the Jenny Lind of European songsters ; but having 
now heard both, and remembering each pretty well, we 
incline to rank the Icterine as level with the blue-throat 
in splendid volume and variety of note. The Icterine 
warbler is, moreover, essentially a mimic. Here, where 
