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430 ACCOUNT OF DANISH LAPLAND BY LEEMS.
called Da/vek. But thefe leffer cormorants chiefly are to be met with in great numbers,
of the fame colour with thofe juft mentioned, which are named in Norwegian Saeing,
in the Lapland Gaiffe, and which furpafs all the other fpecies in number, are thofe lefler
cormorants which, with the exception of black feet, are like the former in colour, called
in Norwegian Kroffe, in Lapland Skjerro. Of thefe whole troops areto be feen in places
where they aflemble for laying their eggs, and hatching their young. They lay their
eggs on high rocks, whence they fly in troops at the approach of man, darkening the
whole air as with a thick cloud, and fill all places with their unfeafonable clamours.
Near the promontory of Sv er bolt: in eaftern Finmark, is feen a high and lofty rock,
called in common Sverholts Klub, on the fide of which next to the fea, the Omnipotent
Architect of nature has formed in the rock itfelf certain natural receffes, covered with
mofs, difpofed in a certain beautiful order, and feparated from each other by due dif-
tances, where the faid birds meet every year in flocks for laying their eggs, and hatching
their young. ‘The eggs which are laid in the lower recefles (for of thefe one is above
the other) are eafily taken by a fpoon faftened on a reed; thofe which lie above are al-
together inacceflible. The eagles ufually build their nefts in the neighbourhood, the
inconvenience and injury of which the young cormorants, to their lofs, often feel. The
eggs of cormorants that build in the rock are variegated ; the yolks, though furpafling
in yellownefs hens’ eggs, yet have a flavour not altogether difagreeable. But it is well
to be noticed what qualities, from the colour and names affigned to each f{pecies of cor-
morant, have been mentioned above, fhould be underftood of the adult alone; for the
young are all of one afh colour at firft, marked with various {pecks, which colour
as long as they keep they are called by the Norwegians Sfaar Unger, but by the
Laplanders Skavie ; but as ioon as they begin to grow white (they begin in the autumn
of the year they are hatched), in Lapland they are called Zhywormalas. ‘The Laplan-
ders intent on catching cormorants, put down a rope into the fea, to the end of which
is fixed a hooked {tick ; the cormorant thinking it food flies to it eagerly, and devour-
ing hook and all, is caught by the wily Laplander, who draws in the rope. By this
artifice they take ufually great numbers of them, {trip their fkins off, and expofe them
for fale.
Certain birds, in Norwegian, Taenner, in Lapland called Z/yerrek, are to be met
with in Finmark, and thefe not only common, and to be met with up and down in Nor-
way, but well known by a black head, grey along the back and wings, white under the
belly, and a cleft tail; but there are others too, if fame is to be credited, more uncom-
mon, black all over the body, ftunning the ears of the paflengers by their perpetual
clamours and noife. ‘Their early coming to the fhores is thought to prefage the early
coming of falmon, and their entering the rivers.
The bird, called in Norwegian Kive, or Kive Joen, in Lapland called Ha/el, is num-
bered‘with the fett : it is the fame bird that is white under the belly, the reft of the body
being dark, a feather rather long coming out from the tail, with fharp talons ; in other
re{pects like the’ leffer cormorants. ‘This bird ftays fometimes on fhore, and in the
marfhy grounds, yet adjoining the fea, lays her eggs, and hatches her young. As long
as it remains on land, it fo fhuns the feee of man, that it flies waywardly when pafling
before his eyes. \t other times it is feen at fea, where its averfion to him is not fo
reat, where it rather fearlefsly flies to the fifhermen’s boats, gaping at the pieces of
caft away liver and other offals of this fort. Flying through the air, it purlues and
prefies the faid cormorants, and alfo birds called Taenner, mentioned before, until it
compels them to difcharge themfelves, and then by an amazing agility while flying, re-
ceives and devours what it takes.
A little
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