PETCHORA 433 



self in another. We remained some time in the cayucks, 

 were liberally treated to wines and liqueurs, nuts and 

 bonbons, etc., and then returned to Kuja. 



On the way back, a long chase after a number of young 

 Ducks resulted in our securing the mother and five young, 

 which, however, had all to be shot. They were Long- 

 tailed Ducks. 



At Kuja two small Swan's eggs were brought to us, 

 and we learnt that the bird was to be found in a valley 

 seven versts off. We brought the eggs, and left instruc- 

 tions to have the bird at Kuja by the next time the 

 steamer comes from Alexievka. 



At Kuja we saw both House and Tree Sparrows in some 

 numbers, and saw on the riverside a flock of Hooded 

 Crows and several specimens of the Common Gull. 



The latter bird appears to haunt only the banks of the 

 river, breeding, as far as we know, only in single pairs 

 here and there, and perhaps Kuja is its farthest towards 

 the north. The flock we saw at Ust Zylma in spring 

 probably represented the greater part of the numbers of 

 the Common Gull which breed upon the Petchora below 

 that place. 



The country between Kuja and Mikitza is a great 

 grassy plain, upon which numbers of cattle and horses 

 were feeding. The grass is short, but green and juicy. 

 A thick growth of willows covers a great part of it, and 

 innumerable pools and lakes of water lie in the hollows. 



Stints, Terns, Eing Dotterels, and Yellow-headed 

 Wagtails were abundant, and the dark-coloured Sand 

 Martins were seen skimming along the sandy coast. 



During the day it was very warm, but at night a 

 sudden change took place, and the wind blew strong 

 and cold from the northward. In consequence, poor 

 Piottuch during the night suffered severely from neu- 

 ralgia and got not a wink of sleep. 



