Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/436

408 cliff climbing, and very different to being comfortably lowered down a cliff by ropes. On the top there was only just room to move about, and to look into the eyrie I had to lay flat down, with two natives firmly clutching my legs to prevent me falling over the dizzy height. I was attacked by the parent birds, but secured the four big fluffy-white screaming young. It was a magnificent experience. I also shot adult females, and female in first plumage. I could have brought back more, but refrained from doing so.

, F. æsalon. (Smirill.)—Plentiful in many districts. Very bold. I saw some remarkable scenes between this bird and the Arctic Tern. I did not procure any specimens, as my series of this bird at home is complete. I have regretted, however, since my return, that I did not procure specimens of all the different kinds of birds I saw.

, Phalacrocorax carbo. (Dilaskarfur.)—Common round those parts of the coast I visited.

, P. graculus. (Toppskarfur.)—These also were plentiful in some parts.

, Sula bassana. (Súla hafsúla.)—Common, but I did not visit any of the breeding haunts.

, Anser cinereus. (Grágoes.)—There has been so much confusion and uncertainty as to the species of Wild Goose breeding in Iceland, and the situation of the breeding haunt, that I am very pleased to be able to increase our knowledge on the subject. Shepherd's great journey in 1862 was undertaken chiefly with the object of settling this problem, but he totally failed, as have others who followed him, excepting the Brothers Pearson. Gróndal asserted that the breeding bird was the Bean-Goose, and all eggs which have been sent to England from Iceland were said to be those of Anser sergetum. The Rev. H.H. Slater, in the book before cited, suggests that the breeding haunt would eventually be found in the desert interior, and kindly offers, in 1901, to render any assistance he can to anyone who will brave the personal discomforts and expense of a summer in exploring the Skjálfandafljót River. I braved all these discomforts in 1899, and ascended the river from its mouth at Husavick to the breeding haunt, and that journey furnished some of the most interesting adventures throughout my wanderings. The breeding haunt is not in the interior, but is below Góda-foss. The situation is most remarkable, and is practically inaccessible, save to the farmer who lives nearest to it, and who alone can guide the traveller in safety. Well below Góda-foss the river bifurcates; one portion falling over vast cliffs, and forming the grand falls of Ullar-foss; the other the equally beautiful falls of Barna-