306 
WILD NORWAY. 
divided, stagnated amidst boggy islands or bordered 
marsh-levels rich in sedge and jointed reed. Deep oozy 
channels, uncertain which way to flow, intersected the 
morass ; here and there were larger pools and back¬ 
waters, carpeted with water-lilies and bog-bean, where 
shoals of obese carp plunged in sullen depths, and otters 
furrowed the cane-brakes with mazy tunnels. Beyond 
for miles, spread bouncy moss-hags and quaking bog 
that is neither land nor water—a mere floating film of 
tangled vegetation on which, as on thin ice, one may 
walk in safety or may as likely break through its 
quivering crust. 
May 10 th .—Our first evening.—Hardly had we left 
the village a mile behind than our eyes revelled in a 
sight that alone repaid all pains and perils of the North 
Sea. By the margin of a small marsh-pool, stood or 
splashed a dozen of the most remarkable bird-forms that 
nature has designed—they were Ruffs, in all the glory of 
their full spring plumage, with their curious frills and 
auricles, and their marvellous diversity of colours. It is 
the latter feature that at once strikes attention; no two 
are alike, some black, some white or cream-coloured, 
others bright chestnut, purple, orange, banded or 
brindled, or a mixture of any two of these colours. 
There were many ruffs scattered over these “ home- 
marshes,” but the reeves were still flying in flocks of a 
dozen or more. We also observed this evening Golden 
Plover, Peewits, Green and Wood-Sandpipers, Dunlin, 
Snipe, Storks, Yellow Wagtails (as bright in hue as the 
kingcups, Sedge-Warbler and Reed-Bunting, Black 
Terns, two pairs of Shovelers, and a Garganey drake, 
besides at least one distant pair of godwits. 
