220 Messrs. H. Socbohm and J. A. Hnrvic Brown on 



found to be the easiest mode of distinguishing the sexes, as, 

 so far as our observations extend, we have found it constant 

 at all ages. Alston and Harvie Brown observed it at Arch- 

 angel in 1872, and were always able to separate the sexes at 

 a glance when the birds were procured. 



HiRUNDO RUSTICA, L. 



On the 26tli May a Common-Swallow was seen at Ust 

 Zylma skimming along the river-bank close to the houses of 

 the town; and on the 3rd June we shot a single bird which 

 was chasing the insects round the houses at Habariki. This 

 appeared to be the single Swallow which makes a summer on 

 the Lower Petchora ; at least we saw no more afterwards. It 

 is possible, however, that we left these localities before the 

 main body arrived. 



COTYLE RIPARIA (L.). 



We saw the first Sand-Martin on the day we left Ust Zylma 

 (lOtli June), between that place and Habariki. Afterwards 

 we met with the species in small numbers at Gorodok and at 

 Kuya, and obtained specimens. The unusually dark plumage 

 was remarked in these and other specimens as being quite in 

 striking contrast to that of specimens obtained in Great 

 Britain {vide also Ibis, 1873, p. 59). Nowhere on the Pet- 

 chora did we find the Sand-Martins so abundant as they are 

 in summer on the islands of the Dvina at Archangel, where 

 nearly every suitable bank holds a large colony {loc. cit.) . 



LaGOPUS ALBUS (Gm.) . 



Although we bought numbers of the Capercaillie and Hazel- 

 Grouse for food from the native peasant sportsmen during our 

 stay at Ust Zylma, we did not have a single Willow-Grouse 

 brought to us until the 9th June. We were told by M. Zna- 

 minsky and M. Sacharoff, and others, that " Kouropatki " 

 arc remarkable for their abundance in some seasons, and just 

 as remarkable for their scarcity in others. On the tundra, 

 in certain localities, as at Yooshina and Stanavoialachta, we 

 found them plentiful ; and they formed, along with Ducks 

 and Geese, a staple article of our diet for many a day. 



We met with tliem as far north as we went on the tundra, 



