250 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



thrown trees appeared, each bearing on its summit a cap 

 of the purest snow a foot or more in depth, adding con- 

 siderably to the great weirdness of the scene. It reminded 

 me most strikingly of one of Millais's pictures, in which 

 latter, however, the Eavens gave some appearance of life 

 to the scene absent here. 



The only birds we saw during the long drive through 

 these great forests were a few Snow Buntings — one of 

 which was distinctly seen by us all to perch in a spruce 

 fir — and three Siberian Jays, and one fine old Capercaillie 

 Cock. 



Passing for a time out of this vast forest tract, we 

 crossed a great level snow-covered plain, having here and 

 there a small stunted pine growing. Far as we could see, 

 right or left, in an easterly and westerly direction, the 

 plain extended, and before us, to the north, the forest 

 again appeared. We supposed that this great plain was 

 a swampy tundra in summer, doubtless with the delicious 

 Arctic Bramble growing upon it in abundance. 



Once more entering the forest, we found the land again 

 uneven and even hilly in places — a remarkable contrast to 

 the unbroken surface of the plain we had just left. 



About one o'clock we drove down a steep bank of the 

 Peza River, and rapidly crossed it to the last station 

 before reaching Mezen — Lompozhenskaia — where also 

 our route to Ust Zylma branches off. The Mezen is a 

 fine sweeping river, and in general appearance at this 

 point resembles the Dvina. 



We arrived at Mezen at four o'clock p.m., seeing several 

 flocks of Snow Buntings, a number of Magpies, on one 

 occasion eight together, Hooded Crows, a few Ravens, etc. 



Mezen is situated on the right bank of a ' kouria ' * of 

 the river. Round the town is a bleak bare country without 

 trees, and the nearest forest appears to be on the further 

 '■•' A ' kouria ' is a creek or backwater of the river. 



