3o8 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



which I whistled round and which aHghted within fifty 

 yards of me, a Fieldfare, a Marsh Tit, a Teal Duck, and 

 two 5 Shore Larks. We have now almost enough of 

 of the males of the latter, and wish to make up our 

 series of females. We identified Pintail Ducks which 

 flew overhead almost within shot. 



We saw one flock only of Snow Buntings, apparently 

 principally females, and only one Merlin. The great 

 body of the males of the Snow Buntings seem to have 

 departed, and doubtless have been followed by the 

 females. I found at several places — three, I think — the 

 tail and other feathers of Snow Buntings, evidently slain 

 by a Hawk, and the other day when Seebohm killed and 

 wounded a number of Shore Larks a Merlin dashed down 

 in pursuit of one of the wounded. 



The sun was bright and the air refreshingly cool — the 

 wind light from the north-east. It was very warm in 

 the evening. 



We have not said much about our dinners, etc., and as 

 to-day's was remarkably good we may perhaps be forgiven 

 if we haver just for a few lines anent the same. The 

 first course consisted of soup of Bear's meat stock, cake 

 Whitehead's Juhenne, and handful of Delrien Pernond 

 & Cie.'s 'La printaniere legumes de choix assortis,' 

 Lyons. I record his name and that of his Company with 

 feelings of gratitude — prince of vegetable preserves. The 

 second course included joint of Bear, joint of Siberian 

 beef, tongues of Reindeer ; adjuncts — white bread and 

 whiter? (but sweet) butter. The third course was rice 

 and milk — the rice beautifully done — seasoned with 

 cherry-brandy, or ' Punsch-Extract,' as upon the label. 



After this most excellent meal I loafed out into the 

 yard with my stick-gam, and potted a female House 

 Sparrow which has its nest amongst the ornamental 

 wood-carving of the house. These birds, though so near, 



