THE ZOOLOGIST
THIRD SERIES.
Vol. I.] MAY, 1877. [No. 5. |
A SPRING TOUR IN NORWAY; WITH NOTES ON
THE BIRDS OBSERVED THERE.
By F.S. Mitchell.
It was on the 14th May that, in company with my friend Mr. Wrigley and a Norwegian guide and collector named Lysne, I landed at Orkedalsoren (Nervig), on the Trondhjemsfjord, on the way to the Dovrefjeld, where we proposed spending most of our time. We had arrived at Trondhjem in the 'Tasso' from Hull on the morning of the 12th, meeting Lysne the evening of the same day, he having come up by coasting steamer from Lærdal. Losing as little time as possible in getting our money changed, &c., we started off at once for the interior. Our route lay through Orkedal and Meldal, past Grut to Bjærkaker, where we joined the main road from Trondhjem; thence by Austberg to Stuen and so past Aune, Drivstuen, and Kongsvold to Jerkin and Fokstuen.
The summer was one of the latest for many years, and everything was covered with ice and snow. The only birds to be seen on our landing were large flocks of Ducks, floating, shy and watchful, at the river's mouth, Ringed Plover and Oystercatchers on the links, and Bramblings and Pied Flycatchers in the woods; so that at first, as our time was limited, the prospect was rather gloomy. Things improved, however, and in the Fokstuen valley we had quite enough of sun and of the insects that disported themselves in its rays. Very little was seen of the big game of the country, no Bears, and no Reindeer, although at Jerkin we had a long walk after a herd of six that had been seen to cross the valley
