Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/442

414 as I had not unpacked my guns. All those I saw in other districts were the normally coloured birds with which I am quite familiar. When I returned to the first place, about five weeks later, my eyes were opened to the fact that it was a most striking and interesting case of conscious protective mimicry. At all events, I think, when I can give full details, it will be found to be so. I procured males, females, and downy young. I found this bird breeding far towards the interior districts.

, Charadrius pluvialis. (Heidló, &c.).—The commonest of Iceland birds, being abundant everywhere. I was charmed with its sweet, flute-like, tootling song, and tried to syllable it after I had heard it perhaps thousands of times, and was then listening to it. An utterly absurd failure, as it is with the attempt to syllable nearly all other birds' notes. I got a perfect series of this bird, from the young just hatched, and every possible stage up to full-fledged; also a good number of adult males and females. This was one of the very few birds of which I procured more than I actually wanted for my series.

, Hæmatopus ostralegus. (Tjaldur.)—In moderate numbers in some districts. I did not trouble to procure any specimens.

, Phalaropus hyperboreus. (Odinshani.)—In some districts as common as Sparrows in a barn-yard. I could write long chapters on the habits of this fascinating little bird. I discovered, notwithstanding assertions to the contrary, that the male performs the sole duty of hatching the eggs and rearing the young, the female leaving after the eggs are laid. My evidence is, I think, conclusive. I am aware that an American observer, I believe, has made a similar discovery with regard to the allied Grey Phalarope (P. fulicarius). My series of this bird is a remarkably complete one. Adult males and female in summer stages, and changing to winter; young in every conceivable stage, from just hatched to full-fledged; nest and eggs. I do not consider that the full-fledged young has been properly described.

, Gallinago cœlestis. (Hrossagaukur.)—Met with very sparingly, and only in certain districts. I only procured one adult. A curious looking bird, but it cannot be other than the Common Snipe.

, Tringa alpina. (Lóupræll.)—Very abundant. The small race. I procured adult males, females, and young.

, T. striata. (Sendlingur.)—Plentiful in some parts. I went to several breeding haunts, but had to leave before I had procured eggs, and when I returned was too late for downy young.