318 
WILD NORWAY. 
On May 14th we set out on a week’s exploration of 
some of these. The day was Sunday, but ordinary work 
was proceeding as usual—ploughing and sowing, even 
bricklaying, while shops were not closed, the small 
boys were spearing eels, and two gensdarmes were shoot¬ 
ing ! Our road lay through an arid heath, half cultivated 
and studded (as usual) with cottages, whereon white 
storks had their nests, w T ith sparrows as sub-tenants. 
By the roadside were observed crested larks, wheatears, 
whinchats, etc. On May 17th the country suddenly 
swarmed with Tree-Pipits, and we also observed a thick¬ 
set, short lark, either Alauda brachydactyla or A. 
arborea; as well as one Stone-Curlew. 
After a fifteen-mile drive, our Jehu pulled up before 
a solitary cottage, whence proceeded sounds of riot and 
revelry. This primitive little ale-house, literally at the 
world’s end, and on two sides smothered up to the eaves 
with blowm-sand, was to be our quarters. The hamlet 
comprised a dozen fishermen’s huts scattered in the 
dunes, and the inhabitants were assembled here enjoying 
their Sunday beer. Our beds were bunks and accom¬ 
modation of the roughest; but we were agreeably 
surprised at the fare—a fresh-caught sea-trout, beef¬ 
steaks and sweets, with good baierskol and coffee; 
and when, soon after, the noisy crowd of fishermen 
departed to prepare for their night at sea, we felt that 
matters were not so bad after all. 
May loth .—This proved a memorable day. Karely 
in any land have we seen greater abundance of bird- 
life than thronged these Danish wilds. Sea and sky 
pulsated with moving forms ; the dark green salt-grass 
was studded with marsh-birds and sea-dwellers—geese 
