The Birds of Angmagsalik. 221 
magsalik, either during their flight to the north or south. As regards 
some of the species their migration is southwards — no farther than 
to Angmagsalik, to be exact. Here some of the sea-birds find open water 
and sufficient food, and only of necessity go to districts further south. 
Other sea-birds, various species of geese, for instance, are regular mi- 
gratory birds and leave the country entirely for waters much farther 
south, presumably in Europe. But there is no doubt that those breeding 
at Angmagsalik are considerably augmented by birds hatched farther 
north which move to the south in winter. For instance, the Ptarmigan, 
which are often met in crowds at Angmagsalik, are certainly to a great 
extent birds which have come from the north, and the Faleons which 
follow in their tracks are so numerous that they far exceed the few 
couples which are found in the Angmagsalik district. As regards the 
land-birds, only few species arrive on their flight to or from North 
Greenland. One species which, like the Ptarmigan, is not a migratory 
bird but a roving bird, and hardly ever leaves the country, is the Snowy 
Owl, which is not known to breed at Angmagsalik but is commonly 
met as a breeding bird in North Greenland. In winter, in the months 
of September to May, it is by no means rare at Angmagsalik. Of other 
land-birds there are the Hornemann’s Redpoll, the rather bigger, lighter 
relative of the Greenland Redpoll, the northern Greenland form which 
certainly is not exactly rare in winter; this, too, is merely a bird appearing 
in the winter. In north-east Greenland some species of wading birds 
breed and are seen at Angmagsalik during migration, although irregularly 
and rarely; these are the Grey Phalarope, the Sanderling, the Knot, 
and the Turnstone. The only one of these at all commonly met with 
is the Turnstone; the others are more rare, and it is not at all certain 
that they should not rather be placed to the next group, the casual 
guests, which on their flight to and from Iceland are occasionally driven 
to Angmagsalik; the Grey Phalarope, Sanderling, Knot and Dunlin 
are not common breeding birds on Iceland, the Sanderling and the 
Knot at any rate only very exceptionally. As regards the latter we know 
that the flight to the northern breeding places lies over Iceland, where 
flocks of thousands stay a short time in spring and autumn. Of water- 
birds the Ivory Gull and the Fulmar have been met a few times, the 
Long-tailed Skua once. The first two species are sea-birds, which all 
the year round keep to the coasts where there is open water; the Long- 
tailed Skua is essentially a migratory bird. | 
Among the species which regularly and in the greatest numbers 
are seen on their flight are the geese. No geese breed at Angmagsalik; 
but further to the north in Greenland are commonly met: the Barnacle 
Goose, the Pink-footed Goose, and the Brent Goose. The first two have 
once been seen at Angmagsalik, whereas the Brent Goose appears in 
