286 
WILD NORWAY. 
Woodpeckers, G-oldcrest, Northern and other Tits, 
Ortolan, Brambling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Fieldfare, 
Redwing, Redstart, Rock-Pipit, Dipper, Great Grey 
Shrike, Willow-Grouse, Greylag Goose, Sheld-Duck, 
Mallard, Pintail, Heron, Great Blackback and Herring 
Gulls, Cormorant, Shag, etc. 
The Fieldfares commence laying in colonies by mid- 
May, and fresh eggs may be found till July, in north or 
south. Redwings nest separately, though often con¬ 
tiguously to the fieldfare colonies, and, as a rule, a week 
later. 
The Ring-Ouzel lays in the first week of June in 
the same situations as at home—heathery banks and 
scaurs. Once only have I found its nest above the zone 
of scrub—built-up in the open against a stone, altitude 
three thousand feet. The Blackbird and Song-Thrush 
breed commonly up to Namdalen; and the Mistle-Thrush 
(rarely) up to the Polar circle. The first nest of the 
Northern Tit (Petrus borealis) we found oh May 15th, 
in a hole neatly drilled in a birch. The six eggs 
resembled those of a willow-wren, white, with large 
rufous blotches. There was no nest; whereas the blue 
eggs of the Redstart, often found occupying similar 
situations, are set off by the white ryper-feathers of 
which the nest is made, and form a pretty picture. 
The Marsh-Tit (Parus palustris), though merely the 
southern race of P. borealis , just mentioned, differs 
therefrom in also building a compact nest of moss, 
feathers, etc., usually placed in a natural hole, as 
distinguished from the excavated abode of its nearest 
relative. Both forms breed up to mid-Norway, but 
beyond the Polar circle P. borealis alone is found. 
