PETCHORA 



0/0 



At one place en route Ked-throated Pipits were seen 

 freely perching high in the willow-scrub, and two were 

 shot in the act. 



In sight of Alexievka — our destination — we landed on 

 a low sandy and muddy island, where we saw two Great 

 Black-backed Gulls, and Seebohm identified a Buffon's 

 Skua — a new bird to our Hst. 



We took eggs of Arctic Terns, and a Duck's nest and 

 down — Pintail, I believe. 



We were surprised to meet again with our little friend, 

 the Siberian Chiffchaff, ' cheveting ' away amongst the 

 scrub ; and two examples were shot. 



Seven Swans were swimming off the shore, and it was 

 they that drew us off first in pursuit. 



A Larus cachinnans was on the sand alongside the two 

 Greater Black-backed Gulls — the latter a new bird for 

 our list. 



Stints were common, but not breeding, as far as we 

 could judge. 



Feodor, one of our boatmen, knocked down a Tern as 

 it stooped at him over its nest. 



A party of Euffs and a few Phalaropes, a few Terek 

 Sandpipers and Einged Plover on the sand. Sedge 

 Warblers and Ked-throated Pipits freely perching on the 

 scrub, and two or three of the Petchora Pipits singino- 

 overhead, Black Scoters, Wigeon and Pintails, and three 

 large geese (probably Bean), and Keed Buntings and 

 Little Buntings, and Yellow-headed Wagtails and Willow 

 Wrens were about all the others seen. 



At Alexievka ' houses were appointed to us to dwell in,' 

 kindly put at our disposal by M. Arendt, and we got 

 comfortably settled down. 



Piottuch skins and sleeps in one little log-hut, and 

 I sleep in another, clean and comfortable, 9 feet by 

 9 feet. 



VOL. II. 26 



