PREFACE ix 



Scotland, called ' Cauld-hail.'' When this is heated up, it 

 becomes ' Cauld kail het again ; ' which, being interpreted 

 into ' English language as spoke,' is the equivalent again 

 of ' Stale news.' I have thought it the right thing to do 

 to mention these things in apology for serving up such 

 remnants from the high table, and — from at least one 

 point of view — offering such iced bouilUe. 



I have no idea in this place of bringing 'down to date,' 

 events which have occurred there since ; but I may be 

 allowed to mention, that in 1876, I received from Captain 

 Wiggins, of Sunderland, an invitation to accompany him 

 to the Yenesai. I had been for some years in very regular 

 correspondence with him before 1875, Alas ! due to 

 family reasons, I could not go with him ; but I did what 

 I considered the best thing for the purpose of furthering 

 the interests of Ornithology, and that was to wire to 

 Captain Wiggins as follows : ' Can't possibly. Wish I 

 could. Wire Seebohm, Sheffield. He will go.' And I 

 wired to Seebohm also. 



Now let me say one word of thanks. The successes of 

 our journeys to a little known and remote part of Europe, 

 I consider were greatly due to the kindly help and further- 

 ance of our plans by those in high places and official 

 positions in London and in Kussia. My reception at the 

 Embassy by an A.D.C. of Count Schuvaloff was most 

 cordial. The only little word of warning which he gave 

 me was, just as he was saying ' good-bj^e ' and ' good 

 luck ' — ' Now, Harvie-Brown,' he said, with a smile, 

 'don't take too much English powder intoEussia;' to 

 which, likewise with a smile, I replied : ' Dear sir, we 

 will just take as much as we require.' 



However, there is one thing I feel sure of, it is not 

 best to travel in Russian territory with commercial intro- 

 ductions only, if one desires to avoid many minor 

 unpleasantnesses, and possibly some bigger ones, 



