PET CHORA 397 



since our last visit to the Alexievkai Tundra on the 

 22nd June. 



Before landing on the tundra we found a Bing 

 Dotterel's nest with four eggs, on one of the islands, 

 and shot the bird. 



Our men struck off in a different direction from us, 

 and when they rejoined us had done nothing. Thej^ 

 had traversed the old ground where we took the Grej^ 

 Plover's eggs on the 22nd, and we had taken a new 

 stretch of tundra more to the right (or south-east). 



Seebohm and I, lying some hundred yards apart, spent 

 fully two hours over a Plover's nest, and after the 

 nest was found, Seebohm lay quite another hour to 

 shoot the bird. He had watched the female on to the 

 nest, and when I fired off my gun saw the bird leave the 

 spot. AVe found the nest with four eggs, and he re- 

 mained to try and shoot the bird, but after a weary wait 

 was not successful. He fired at, and we believe wounded, 

 the female, as only the male returned afterwards. AYe 

 both, to-day, distinctly heard the birds utter both a single 

 note and the double one, watching the birds within a few 

 paces' distance. 



No Golden Plovers were seen inland on the tundra, 

 but near the riverside at a place called Bougre — a 

 fisherman's empty hut — several pairs were seen and one 

 bird shot. Here also was one pair of Grey Plovers. 



Close to Bougre a flock of about a hundred Buffon's 

 Skuas were hovering overhead, and we got right in 

 amongst them, Seebohm shooting six from one and 

 the same spot. They behaved in exactly the same way 

 as a colony of Terns. When one was shot the rest of 

 the flock swooped at and hovered over us, and we shot 

 a dozen birds, some with dust shot. 



One bird, which was particularly persevering in its 

 attacks, led to the discovery of a young bird in down 



