PETCHORA 4^1 



the male amongst the timber baulks and it appeared to 

 drop, but we could not find it. 



In the evening I fired at a Swan — two barrels — but at 

 long range, from x\rendt's sloop. 



Mosquitoes swarm over river and land. At night I am 

 perfectly protected in my little log-hut by the mosquito 

 curtain Howard Saunders kindly lent me. I feel very 

 grateful to him for it. It ensures a good night's sleep, 

 which is half the battle. Seebohm manages by having a 

 raid with the flappers and sleeping with a veil on, and 

 escapes also ; but the perfect freedom of breathing under 

 the larger curtain, for me, is a great blessing. Few get 

 into my hut, as it is tight as a bottle, but if there were 

 hundreds I don't believe one could touch me. I tuck it 

 in all round in the morning, slip in quickly and quietly at 

 night, and quickly tuck it in again at the front. Again, 

 Saunders — best thanks ! 



July 9. 



About twelve o'clock on Friday, the 9th of July, we 

 went again across to the tundra, this time higher up the 

 river, beyond Bougre. Seebohm and I again renewed 

 our search for Grey Plovers, and, finding a pair, watched 

 the female to her nest. 



The four eggs were lighter-coloured and more minutely 

 streaked than any we have got hitherto, and the nest was 

 placed at the foot of a ridge close to damp ground — not on 

 the top, as with the other nests. 



We were a long time over this nest, quite an hour and 

 a half, having, as it turned out afterwards, lain down at 

 first within ten yards of the nest. The bird, after we 

 shifted our position, went on very quickly, and I shot her 

 as she again moved off. 



Shortly afterwards we saw a bird fly off just where 

 Simeon some time before had been searching for a nest. 

 We at once lav down, and in ten or fifteen minutes she 



