494 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



found apparently enough food in the seeds, amongst the 

 manure in the villages and station-houses, all along the 

 route where it was found between Mezen in the west, 

 and Ust Zylma in the east. (The House Sparrow, on the 

 other hand, seemed absent at first from Ust Zylma.) 



The Eedpoll was also a restless species, yet could 

 scarcely be said to exhibit migratory tendencies. 



The Hooded Crow was apparently partly migratory (?). 



The Jackdaw we saw at Mezen early in the season, 

 but not till later at Ust Zylma. We were assured it 

 ' resided at Mezen most of the winter, although its first 

 advent there was only in recent years.' 



The Yellowhammer was scarce, but apparently resident. 

 Our first dated, however, 22nd of April— a 3 —at Ust 

 Zylma. 



Taking now Snow Buntings, of which we collected a 

 very extensive series, the sex of most of which was 

 carefully ascertained, I find we had the proportion of 

 48 (? s to 29 $ s. These were entirely obtained prior to 

 the date of our leaving Ust Zylma, and we did not meet 

 with any again until we found a few pairs at their nesting 

 haunts, 380 miles further to the north, at Dvoinik, in 

 July. Besides those we preserved, we saw many more, 

 and many were utilised as food. 



But the disparity must not be laid great stress upon in 

 our analysis, because we naturally desired to preserve as 

 many females as males, and vice versa. But we did find 

 the proportion was in favour of the 3 s, and to be con- 

 siderable, and constantly remarked upon the fact, even 

 when they were shot or snared out of enormous flocks. 

 Of course the males were quite the more conspicuous. 



Taking now a truly migratory species as more repre- 

 sentative — the Shore Lark — I find we got our first upon 

 the 10th of May, and continued to get a few onward till 

 the 21st. In that time we preserved 25 males and 11 



