FETCH OR A 459 



possibly, indeed I may say probably, connected with the 

 pools just mentioned. 



In all this stretch of tundra and bog I saw only a 

 solitary Willow Grouse and a few Lapland Buntings, 

 Eed-throated Pipits, and a pair or two of Grey Plovers, 

 and at the pools in the marsh only a solitary Red-necked 

 Phalarope. 



The south shore of the river was equally barren of bird 

 life until I neared the inlet, when I saw a few Temminck's 

 Stints hovering over their young or nests, a pair of Terns, 

 and a few pairs of Buffon's Skuas. 



I arrived on the bank of the river almost exactly 

 opposite to where we took the eggs of the fifth Little 

 Stint's nests (eggs No. 3) which Piottuch had found. 



Here a Little Stint was seen to fly up from the feeding 

 ground on the margin of the inlet, and alight by the edge 

 of a small pool of water. I was just going to shoot it 

 when I — fortunately — suddenly came to the conclusion 

 that the fewer killed, and the fewer shots fired, the better 

 chance I should have of getting eggs. After ten minutes 

 spent in preening its feathers our little friend flew up and 

 again settled upon the grassy slope close to a bunch of 

 wild leek, again preened its feathers, and running down a 

 little slope towards me disappeared. 



I watched carefully for its re-appearance for some three 

 or four minutes, and then walked straight up, about forty 

 yards, to the nest, flushing the bird off when not more 

 than ten yards from it. It settled fifteen yards or so 

 further off, and then flew straight away, being, I believe, 

 more alarmed at the presence of the black dog, Isaac, 

 than at mine. I waited by the side of the nest for some 

 time to shoot her, and at last got a shot, and wounded 

 her slightly. 



All our dust shot is finished, and we are reduced to 

 using No. 8, which is next to useless. 



