FETCH OR A 303 



Simultaneously with the rising of the sun a small flock 

 of Eedpolls passed overhead, flying against the wind, 

 uttering their twittering notes, or the single fine-drawn 

 musical ' dzui.' Then another Hooded Crow flew croaking 

 overhead, and four or five duck (sp. ?) flew hurriedly up 

 the river. Then soon after I heard Seebohm fire a single 

 shot, and again all was silent. Fourteen Gulls with 

 steady flight passed overhead up the river, and many 

 parties of Eedpolls, all flying in the same easterly direc- 

 tion, passed also at a considerable elevation, their various 

 notes sounding, however, distinctly in the clear air. 



The following attempts to write down their (the 

 Eedpolls') notes were made on the spot after repeated 

 opportunities were given me : — 



Dzii-dzii: dzii: dzii-dzii, or a single dzii-ii — long drawn 

 out. 



Or sometimes simply dzii : dzii : dzii : repeated at 

 regular intervals. 



Also a harsher note, dzuz-z-z-z. 



The clearest, most musical note dzui, and a trill 1-r-r-rui, 

 Irui, dzii. 



Clouds overhead light and fleecy — carded wool against 

 pale blue — drifting slowly to the west. Two Geese flew 

 down the river from the east, * gugh-gugh : gugh : gugh- 

 gugh.' 



Seebohm paid me a visit about 5.30 a.m., and returned 

 again to his ' cache,' arranging to come back at eight or 

 nine to camp for breakfast. 



I was engaged in drawing a portrait of a friend — M. 

 Znaminsky — in ' luije ' and 'savik,' when 'gugh-gugh, 

 gugh ' sounded nearly overhead, and I had just time to 

 seize my gun and fire, managing to pull down one out 

 of seven Bean Geese. 



M. Znaminsky came to see what I had got, and politely 

 removing his cap, said something complimentary which 

 I did not understand at the time. 



