PETCHORA 357 



the place reminded me of a pond in a gentleman's private 

 grounds at home, and the same birds were swimming 

 here that one often sees in the former places. Two 

 Wigeons were in the foreground, the male occasionally 

 whistling as he floated lazily about. A little further off 

 were two Teal, and up and down over the pond were a 

 number of splendid Scaup ducks, swimming in pairs or in 

 small parties and frequently uttering their harsh wild 

 cries. At the far end a solitary Swan floated, neck 

 straight, head high, and evidently on the qui vive. The 

 Scaups first became suspicious and swam close up to one 

 another. The Swan took the hint, and beating the water 

 with his wings, rose, and flew off shortly afterwards, 

 followed by the Scaup, Wigeon, and Teal, and the pond 

 was totally deserted. 



Piottuch fired at a Greyhen, and we found the nest on 

 the raised grass-covered bank skirting the river, con- 

 taining five eggs. 



The Swans were, we believe, still only migrating, as 

 there were no less than nine together when they first rose 

 startled by the flag at our masthead. 



At six o'clock we came to anchor in a kouria surrounded 

 on three sides by steep wooded banks, and opening on to 

 the river on the fourth. 



Eain came on, and we made all as tight as we could for 

 the night. 



As yet we have only made 45 versts from Haba- 

 rika. Piottuch is hard at work, but finds it difficult to 

 do his work well in the confined space at his command. 

 We are fully employed in blowing eggs, writing journals, 

 etc., and are now tolerably comfortable in our cabin, as 

 the leaks are not very large. The waterproof sheets are 

 spread over the space between the two cabins, where there 

 is a locker full of unskinned birds, and where Piottuch 

 works in fine weather, and where we eat our rough-and- 



VOL. II. 25 



