GREY PLOVER 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY EXPLORERS. 



John Wolley — Unknown Breeding-Grounds — Birds of Archangel and 

 Lapland — Voyages to the Petchora in the Seventeenth Century — 

 Schrenck's Visit in 1837 — Castren's Visit in 1842 — Keyserling's Visit 

 in 1843 — Pelzam's Visit in 1874 — Hoffmansegg's Visit about 1850 — Outfit 

 — Letters of Introduction. 



The history of British birds has been enthusiastically 

 studied by ornithologists during the last half-century. In 

 spring and autumn several species of birds annually 

 visit our shores in considerable numbers, passing us in 

 their migrations to and from unknown breeding-grounds. 

 These migrations, and the geographical distribution of 

 birds, have of late years occupied a large share of the 

 attention of ornithologists. The name of John Wolley 

 stands pre-eminent amongst the discoverers in this de- 

 partment of science. His indefatigable labours in Lapland 



