Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/225

Rh found when building, but the old birds saw us about it, and deserted it.

Gray-headed Wagtail. Motacilla viridis.—First seen between Fokstuen and Dombaas, May 31st. They did not appear to have commenced breeding before our departure. On June 11th, near Jerkin, we found a nest in process of building, on the banks of a stream, the old birds being about it.

Meadow Pipit. Anthus pratensis.—Very numerous on Fokstuen marsh; fresh eggs were taken from June 10th.

Lapland Bunting. Plectrophanes lapponicus.—A fine male was shot on Fokstuen marsh on June 9th, but no nest was discovered till the 14th, when four eggs, a few days sat, were obtained. Before the end of the next day two more were found, containing respectively six and seven eggs, all fresh. The nests were in each case formed of dried grass, lined with feathers, and placed in depressions of the ground under small bushes; one of them had all the feathers in the lining from the axillaries and under wing-coverts of Snipe, and looked very pretty. The birds sit very close, and when disturbed run about among the bushes, chirping very vigorously within a few feet of you, the male always appearing almost immediately, and making a duet.

Snow Bunting. Plectrophanes nivalis.—On May 26th we crossed the mountains between Kongsvold and Jerkin, the highest point of the road, and here saw our first flock of Snow Buntings; they were very wild, and would not allow of a nearer approach than fifty or sixty yards. Some were shot on the 28th at Fokstuen, but the snow now began rapidly to disappear from the hills, and none were seen after June 2nd, though we several times visited the tops of the highest hills within several miles in search of them.

Reed Bunting. Emberiza schœniclus.—Plentiful on Fokstuen marsh. A nest with four eggs was taken on June 15th from the ground under a bush. It was made of straws and lined with hair.

Brambling. Fringilla montifringilla.—Was seen on our arrival at Nervig, May 14th, where they were in pretty numerous flocks. Its curious note (which the Starling imitates to a nicety) had accompanied us all along the road, and it was with great pleasure that we heard this exchanged for the sweet song with which the male serenades his mate as she sits occupied with her motherly duties. The first nest was taken on June 6th, and in the week following a considerable number were discovered. These