250 
WILD NORWAY. 
their sharp crests and striking plumage clearly defined 
by the spy-glass. This was September 18th ; next day 
not one remained, nor did I ever see them again. 
While spying the wax wings, several crossbills were also 
observed, each busy dissecting a pine-cone at the summit 
of very tall trees. Owing to their lofty perches, their 
silence and sedentary habits (since each cone takes 
perhaps an hour to explore), and to the birds agreeing 
so closely both in size and colour with the cones to 
which they cling, crossbills are easily overlooked even in 
woods where they are numerous. A woodpecker with 
curious white band down the back, and a yellow crown, 
also attracted attention to-day. I shot it with the 
‘450, and from the fragments gathered, identified it as 
Picoides tridactylus , of which we subsequently obtained 
another specimen. While waiting for the boat to come 
across, w T e also “potted” five hazel-grouse, all sitting on 
the trees. They are delicious eating.* 
Enough, however, of misfortune. I have, in fact, 
overrun its actual limit, for happier events had occurred 
in the interval, and I must hark back to maintain the 
sequence of this narrative. On September 14 th, a 
bonder , that is, a yeoman farmer, came over to interview 
the outlanders. Representing five owners of forest-land 
* Forest-birds were few. Besides game and birds of prey (else¬ 
where mentioned), the chief were Siberian jays, Northern tits with 
black caps and white cheeks, which sang sweetly, crossbills, occasional 
bramblings and fieldfares, robins, great black and three-toed wood¬ 
peckers (both rare), and many kinds of owl. On September 14th 
ortolans observed at Murumoen sseter. On the lakes, most of the 
breeding waterfowl had departed. The last young long-tailed duck 
was shot on September 8th, but a few common and velvet scoters 
remained, and I have odd notes of scaup and tufted ducks, wigeon, 
teal, etc. On September 9th a black-throated diver had already 
completely acquired the white neck of winter. 
