Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/445

Rh morning could get but a repetition of the cold milk and hot coffee. It was eight o'clock p.m. on the third day before I reached civilization and food. That fearful fog did not lift for four days, and I believe it was this same fog which led to the tragic suicide of the navigating lieutenant of H.M.S. 'Blonde,' the officers of which I had previously met at Husavick. I did not hear of this sad event until I returned to England.

U. grylle. (Teista.)—Very common. I procured adults only, and those were on the island above referred to.

Fratercula arctica. (Lundi.)—Also very common. I procured one adult, and one young covered with down, from the top of this island. The nesting-holes were unusually long in which the birds were breeding, and it was a very difficult matter to get to the young.

Colymbus glacialis. (Himbrimi.)—I found this bird distinctly rare in the North, and only saw about four specimens, two of which were on the coast. I obtained a splendid adult and two eggs.

C. septentrionalis. (Lómur.)—This was the common species of Diver, and in one district I saw as many as twenty at one time. I obtained adult male and female, young in down, and young in first plumage.

Podicipes auritus. (Sefönd.)—Very abundant in some districts. I found no nests as actual floating structures; they were all built up from the bottom of the lake, until the surface of the water was reached. The commonest site was under a projecting mass of lava, without any surrounding vegetation, and the eggs could be distinctly seen a long distance away. I obtained a good series of adults, young just hatched, young half-grown, and nest and eggs.

Fulmarus glacialis. (Fylúngur.)—Plentiful at sea, but I did not visit any breeding haunt.

I was absent from Birmingham just over eight weeks. Eighteen days of this time was spent on board the Danish mail steamers during the outward and return journeys; so that I had actually less than six weeks on land in the North for collecting. During this time I procured 330 specimens of birds, a splendid series of nests, eggs, and down; skinned and preserved all my specimens, labelled them, and made elaborate separate notes on soft parts, and measurements. I wrote up my journal daily, when it was possible to do so, recording my observations upon the habits of Zool. 4th ser. vol. V., November, 1901