CHAPTER XVIII. 



STANAVIALACHTA REVISITED. 



Second Visit to Stanavialachta — Peregrine Falcons — Plague of Mosquitoes 

 — Midnight on the Tundra — Nest of the Velvet Scoter — Little Feodor 

 sent in Quest of the Swan's Skin — A Russian Bath — Feodor's Return — 

 Identification of Eggs of Bewick's Swan — Mosquito Veils — Our Eighth 

 Nest of Grey Plovers — Our Servants — Our Ninth Nest of Grey Plovers 

 — The Tenth and Eleventh Nests. 



On the following morning, when my companion returned 

 from his watch at the swan's nest, which had turned out 

 a complete failure, we consulted with Piottuch as to what 

 was to be done. The swan had evidently forsaken her 

 nest. Time was rapidly flying, and we feared the 

 breeding: season would be over before we had obtained 

 identified eggs of the smaller species. It did not appear 

 as if we could do anything at Alexievka ; we had evi- 

 dently yet to learn how swans could be trapped at their 

 nests on the Petchora ; and we came to the conclusion 



L 



