Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/226

200 are usually placed in the birch trees at heights of from four to eight feet, and the number of eggs never more than four. They are composed mostly of fine straws and bents, mixed with moss and lichen, a layer of still finer bents being put in as lining, over which is a final layer of feathers.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.—A few were seen about the station at Aarlivold as we passed through on May 17th, and several old nests were stuck among the timbers, but this was the only place we noticed it north of the Dovrefjeld.

Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix.—These were very numerous at Nervig, feeding on the enclosed land, as a lot of Rooks might do, and one nest was taken on May 16th by Wrigley, there being four eggs, a little sat upon, in a small tree on an island at the mouth of the River Orkla. We found them as far as Drivstuen, but never saw them on the Dovrefjeld.

Magpie. Pica caudata.—Common everywhere; numbers of nests in the trees along the streets of Trondhjem, and close to boxes placed for the reception of Starlings. At Nervig was one within three yards of the ground, and at Jerkin we noticed one built among a heap of sticks reared against the barn-wall. At the former place, on May 14th, we took a nest of seven eggs, and there were many more nearly as far advanced. A nest near Fokstuen station-house was about eight feet from the ground in a small birch, and whilst in process of building was quite inaccessible from the melting snow forming a swampy lake round it, but when all this went it was left high and dry, and we visited it every morning to remove the newly-laid egg. She deposited seven, the last on June 10th, but would do no more for the furtherance of oological science.

Jay. Garrulus glandarius.—Two pairs seen at Grut, May 18th, the only ones observed.

Siberian Jay. Perisoreus infaustus.—When driving through the thick pine-woods between Austberg and Stuen, May 20th, a Siberian Jay crossed the road in front of us, but the guns happening to be packed up she went on her way rejoicing.

Great Black Woodpecker. Dryocopus martius.—On May 21st we had not left the station-house at Stuen above ten minutes when in a tall pine we descried a big hole, evidently the work of a Woodpecker. Two of us went back for a ladder, and whilst carrying this to the place the gun went on, and on our arrival Wrigley