PETCHORA 26s 



of the prettiest, cut out of the coping or projecting beam 

 of a house. 



Sometimes, in the richer peasants' houses, but often 



"UXJXJTJXJU 



also in what are apparently much poorer houses, the 

 under sides of the projecting eaves are brightly painted, 

 whilst the fringe of the same, or single thin plank pro- 

 jecting downwards from the outer edge of the eaves, 

 is elaborately fretted. 



It should be mentioned that in every Russian village 

 we have seen there is on each house a small square card, 

 with a picture of an axe, a horse, and barrel of water, 

 and sundry other items. This is — in the event of a fire 

 breaking out — to show what each peasant is bound to 

 bring to assist in putting it out. 



The people are almost invariably good-natured, merry, 

 and pleasant, and as we pass through the paddocks, 

 or irregular streets, the men touch their hats or bow. 

 The women, except on high holiday, seem to keep the 

 house for the most part, but to-day being Palm Sunday, 

 they turned out in force, and at one place we saw about 

 twenty women and girls, clad in malitzas, coloured blue, 

 or with coloured over-' rubakas,' or shirts, playing at 

 a game. On advancing to see what the game was, 

 however, they stopped playing in order to gaze on 

 the mad Englishmen in pursuit of sparrows, and we 

 could not satisfy ourselves as to the nature of their 

 sport. 



On the side of the river we found the wings, tail, and 

 sternum, etc., of an Eagle Owl. Unfortunately the 

 sternum was damaged, apparently by a shot. 



The note of the Tree Sparrow here is quite like a little 



