Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/223

Rh away pine is largely mingled, and where this is so the latter appears to be preferred. The nests were at heights from the ground varying from three to fifteen feet, and the most common number of eggs four, though some had six, and one seven; this last an extraordinary number. One nest was by itself in a low willow bush in the middle of the marsh.

Song Thrush. Turdus musicus.—A single nest was taken near Dombaas, June 10th, containing five eggs, hard sat. It was low down in a young pine.

Redwing. Turdus iliacus.—We saw very few of this species till we found them nesting on the Dovre, and even then they were in no great numbers. The first nest was discovered May 30th, was low down in a small pine, and contained two eggs. The nests are generally very near the ground; one taken near Jerkin on June 11th was quite so, under a small bush, and contained two young birds and two unhatched eggs; another near Fokstuen, June 7th, was on a stump close to the ground under a bush, and had two eggs, whilst a third, on the same day, was in a young birch, one foot from the ground, with six eggs, about ten days sat. I shot the hen from a nest containing three eggs, which was eight feet high in a birch, a very unusual position; this was on June 4th. The Redwing is very shy and hard to approach, except when it has young; then it is bold enough, and both parents will hop, and flit, and chatter round you as anxious as any birds need be. It would take an old hand to separate a mixed lot of Fieldfares', Redwings', and Blackbirds' nests; they appear to be constructed of exactly the same materials, and to be of the same shape and size.

Ring Ouzel. Turdus torquatus.—A male was seen June 8th, in a gully through which a brook ran, near Fokstuen.

Red-spotted Bluethroat. Cyanecula suecica.—This bonny little warbler was fairly numerous at Fokstuen, there not being so many at Jerkin, and its sweet and varied song was to be heard every day as we wandered about among the bushes on the edge of the marshes, the performer perched on the highest twig it could find. We were only lucky enough to find one nest, and that quite by chance. We saw it when building, and thought it was a Titlark's, but accidentally looking at it as we passed a few days after were agreeably surprised to find two of the well-known eggs of the Blue-throat in. It was deep, and made of dried grass, lined with