Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/54

28 after the fashion that easy-going people pass through life—in a sort of jelly-fish existence.

There are excellent museums at Tromsö and Trondhjem, and a most interesting one at Bergen; and, from an ornithological point of view, particularly rich in game-birds, hybrids, and various plumages—one a hybrid between the Black Grouse and Capercailzie. I particularly noticed many most beautiful varieties of Turdus pilaris; a nest of Garrulus infaustus, built of twigs of fir and red hair-like lichens, exactly matching the colour of the sitting bird; a beautiful compact well-built nest and eggs of Hypolaïs icterina; a specimen of the Ruddy Sheldrake, labelled "Skudesnæs, 12 x.92"; the American Surf-scoter, Œdemia perspicillata, Hjellefjord, Sept. 23rd, 1893, a fine adult male. There is a good collection also of Viking remains and stone implements, which will well repay inspection.

The Bergen Fish-market is a great feature of the town, the smaller fish being kept alive in wooden tanks with a constant stream of salt water passing through; the fish are ladled out with hand-nets to purchasers. Here I saw examples of the Tadpole-fish or Lesser Fork-beard, about fourteen inches long, and of a deep brown colour; also two richly-coloured Wrasse—the Blue-striped and the Ballan Wrasse—and the brilliant Bergylt, the so-called Norway Haddock.

One, if not the chief, industry of Norway is the fishing trade. The Lofoten fishery employs 8000 boats and 30,000 men; the take in 1895 was thirty-nine millions of Cod, in 1896 about twenty-one millions.

As the ornithologist on board the 'Neptune,' I cannot think our voyage to the Arctic Seas was a very remarkable one, as few except marine and shore birds were observed. Botanically, however, considering the lateness of the season, we did very well, and brought back many interesting plants from the tundra north of Vadsö. Eight of these shrubs and plants of the tundra bear fruit in the greatest profusion; the berries remain sweet and uninjured below the snows of winter, and in the spring supply the migrating birds with an inexhaustible supply of food.