138 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



We crossed the frontier about 4 p.m. between 

 Ejdtkuhnen and Wirballen, at which latter place what 

 luggage we had with us was examined, passports were 

 shown, etc. Having a couple of hours to wait we had a 

 meal, and then started in the Kussian train, which was 

 not so good as the Prussian. We went on through 

 Poland, and reached Wilna about 10 p.m. After that we 

 both got off to sleep. 



June 5. 



On Wednesday, the 5th of June — very hot — we 

 travelled all day through vast level forests of Scots pine, 

 birch, spruce, poplar, etc., with here and there at long 

 intervals, clearings and villages, and an occasional lake. 

 This, continuing with but slight change all the way to 

 St. Petersbourg, became extremely monotonous. We did 

 not observe many birds, those we recognised including 

 Eed-backed Shrike (2), Storks (scarcer, none seen after 

 Konigsberg) , Hooded Crow, Pied Flycatcher, Goshawk, etc. 



Our stoppages were at Diinaborg and Pskow, and we 

 reached St. Petersbourg about 4.30 p.m. Here we had a 

 series of mishaps. First of all, our registered luggage 

 was not forthcoming, and we were informed that as 

 to-morrow was a holiday we could not get it till the day 

 after. Alston and I then leaving the station in droschkies 

 got separated. He got to the Hotel de France and I to 

 the Hotel d'Angleterre, and then each set about looking 

 for the other, and eventually managed to meet. The 

 sunset to-night at a quarter to nine was very fine, tinging 

 the houses a delicate purplish rose-colour. 



June 6. 



On Thursday, the 6th of June — a very hot day — Alston 



removed to my hotel after breakfast, the advantages being 



greater, including an English commissionaire, Mr. James 



Pilley, whose services we engaged. A commissionaire ig 



