84 THE BREAK-UP OF THE ICE 



wind ; evidently eager to continue their journey and 

 rarely alighting on the ground. Both species were 

 represented, but they appeared to migrate in separate 

 flocks, and the red-throated pipit was much more abun- 

 dant than the meadow-pipit. We occasionally heard 

 both species singing, but they were by no means in full 

 song, being evidently intent on migration. 



Fieldfares and redwings also arrived and soon became 

 very numerous ; and among the flocks of shore-larks 

 which- continued to pass through the district a few 

 Lapland buntings were generally to be seen. 



The flocks of shore-larks had by this time become 

 more numerous, and consisted of males and females in 

 nearly equal numbers. These birds were very tame, 

 frequenting for the most part the fields at the back 

 of the village, feeding and running about in the stubble, 

 and occasionally attempting to sing on the ground. The 

 snow-buntings and redpolls had disappeared, and in the 

 streets their place appeared to be taken by white wag- 

 tails. Fresh flocks of these charming little birds in full 

 breeding plumage arrived daily ; and in a large flock 

 consisting of from thirty to forty birds we noticed an 

 Arctic yellow wagtail (Motacil/a borealis). 



Three whimbrels passed over us. My companion 

 whistled to them, so cleverly imitating their note that 

 they approached within fifty yards of him, when he 

 shot them. A peasant also brought us a rook, the 

 only one we saw during our journey. At this time we 

 ascertained positively the presence of a bird which we 

 had long suspected to be on the roof of the Preestaff's 

 house next door to ours — a no less important bird than 

 the common sparrow. We shot two males and three 

 females. This is an extraordinary instance of the 

 extreme localness of birds. We never by any chance 



