PETCHORA 393 



the Petchora, to the ground where we took the eggs of the 

 latter bird on the 22nd. The Grey Plover, so far as we 

 have seen, appears to be much more locally distributed 

 than the Golden Plover on the tundra. 



We took seven eggs of the Black Scoter, shooting the 

 bird off the nest ; searched a sandy, hilly tract for Stints 

 and Little Kinged Plover without success, but in a marshy 

 hollow found a pair of Wood Sandpipers, with three of the 

 young in down, hatched a day or two ago ; saw a fine Sea 

 or White-tailed Eagle, a Hen Harrier, and a few Shore 

 Larks. The latter birds, which were so numerous during 

 migration at Ust Zylma, are scarce on the tundra here- 

 abouts, there being little ground suitable for them. 

 To-day also we saw the first Kaven we have seen on the 

 tundra. 



Coming home we saw two Peregrines, but the men who 

 rowed the boat — Zyriani — told us the eggs had been taken 

 and eaten prior to our arrival. We saw the old nest on 

 the top of the bank, and almost level with the tundra. 

 Sitting on the nest the bird's head must have been just 

 below the level, and she must have sat quite in a hollow, 

 and had no view on any side — a most curious position. 

 Indeed, I am sceptical about it being a Peregrine's nest 

 at all, as there seemed to be too much material — dry 

 leaves, etc. — and the nest, to my eye, more resembled 

 that of some Duck, though there was no down in it. 



Before starting this morning I put a female Scaup off 

 her nest, with nine eggs. I missed the bird, but identified 

 it clearly. The down has white tips, and we have some 

 six or eight nests of Ducks with the same down. 



Simeon and Feodor started at the same time that we 

 did in our little boat, and at midnight had not returned. 

 We hope the Swan is by this time safely secured. 



The Little Stint we almost despair of finding, unless 

 we can get a run out in the steamer to the Golaievski 



