FETCH ORA 297 



of mine — the right foot this time— the centre going 

 down into a deep soft part, and the two pieces sticking 

 up at an angle of 45°. I also lost a silk handkerchief, 

 and Seebohm his knife. ' Tlie troubles tliat afflict,' 

 etc. 



This evening Piottuch and M. Znaminsky went off on 

 a Wild Goose chase, and to put a little wooden house (near 

 the ground where they come to feed) in a habitable con- 

 dition. If the weather is fine we follow the day after 

 to-morrow. There is a wood at some distance from the 

 Goose-meadows, said to be good for Woodpeckers. 



May 12. 



On Wednesday, the l'2th of May, we had bright sun- 

 shine, warm east wind, a rapid thaw, and the sun with a 

 wide halo round it ; which in the afternoon was followed 

 by a steady soft rain. 



After breakfast Seebohm and I turned out, and went 

 along the river to the north, shooting some birds, the first 

 vanguard of the great migration. Two White Wagtails 

 were shot on the roof of a house, and also a Redstart ; a 

 solitary Meadow Pipit was dodging and trying to hide 

 amongst the manure in one of the fields, and we killed 

 one of two Shore Larks and saw two Merlins. The Gulls 

 were again at the waterhole below the town. 



This morning a Snowy Owl was brought in to us, in all 

 probability the bird we saw on the 10th. A large bullet- 

 hole was made in it close to the shoulder, and it had been 

 partly eaten by some bird, most likely a Hooded Crow, 

 but a skin can still be made of it. 



Seebohm went out again, before the rain commenced, 

 towards the south, saw a large flock of Shore Larks, and 

 shot one, and took seven eggs from a Magpie's nest. He 

 saw three more White Wagtails in the little village, and 

 one Black-headed Gull, 



