490 Mr. H. L. Popliam on Birds 



up, and Swans, Geese and Ducks were constantly flying 

 northward ; but for several days the weather continued too 

 cold for the arrival of small birds, while those which had 

 arrived remained silent, and were consequently difficult to 

 find. With warmer weather matters soon improved and 

 fresh species appeared daily, so that before leaving Yeniseisk 

 I had collected skins of 61 different species. 



Four weeks later we started down the river in the s.s. 

 ' Dolphin,' hurrying on through the forest-region in order 

 to reach the tundra at the river's mouth before it became too 

 late for eggs. Whenever we stopped for wood or were 

 delayed by gales, I went ashore to collect specimens and 

 devoted a considerable portion of my time to the Thrushes, 

 of w^hicli I succeeded in finding eggs of seven species ; but 

 otherwise I sacrificed almost everything to the chance of 

 greater prizes on the tundra. 



Before reaching Golchika we came up with the ice, but 

 after a short delay we were able to continue our voyage to 

 that place and arrived on June 29th. We remained there 

 for three days, to give the ice time to clear away below us, 

 and then proceeded north, with the intention of getting to 

 Kuzkin (SibiriakofF) Island if possible. This we were never 

 able to accomplish, for we were soon compelled to put back, 

 owing to ice, and to anchor close to one of the islands. It 

 was while lying at anchor here that I was fortunate in finding 

 a nest of Tringa subarquata. 



On the following day, during a fog, a strong wind brought 

 the ice down on us again and caused us to beat a retreat up 

 stream. In order to make use of our enforced delay, we 

 then made an attempt to reach the western shore by following 

 along the edge of the ice, but found the coast on this side of 

 the river still more completely blocked. After riding out a 

 two days' gale at anchor in the middle of the river, w'e 

 started again for Kuzkin Island, hoping that the gale might 

 have dispersed the ice ; but our enemy still barred the way 

 on this, as well as on a third endeavour to reach this island, 

 two days later. We, however, employed our time in a 

 vigorous search, both on the mainland on the east shore and 



