528 Mr. H. J. Pearson on the Birds observed 



27. Nyctea scandiaca. 



The fresh remains of a Snowy Owl were found on Heno. 



28. BUTEO LAGOPUS. 



Rough-legged Buzzards were much tlie commonest of the 

 birds of prey in the inland districts. We found eggs up to 

 July 3rd. One nest contained one egg only, so nearly hatched 

 that the chick's call could be heard 12 yards away ; while 

 another held five young, with their quill-feathers showing. 

 The latter number is unusually large. One parent of these 

 five swooped within two yards of the intruder when at the 

 nest^ the only occasion on which I have known this species 

 make a bold attempt to defend its young. Several nests were 

 placed in Scotch firs. 



29. HALiAiixus albicilla. 



We saw three White-tailed Eagles over Litsafjord on 

 June 23rd. A nest, placed on the face of a precipice near 

 the head of the fjord, was empty at the time of our visit. 

 In the Petschenga district our Finn guide also took us to 

 a nest which he said belonged to this species; it was an 

 immense structure of sticks^ &c., in a Scotch fir, and had 

 not apparently been occupied for the last two seasons. 



30. Pandion haliaetus. 



We searched a considerable area round the Petschenga 

 river in the hope of finding an Osprey's nest, but saw only 

 one bird, which came to fish once in Petschenga lake. 

 These poor birds are persecuted here as in other countries, 

 for the Finns cut down any tree, during the winter, in which 

 they find a last year's nest. Knowing that this district was 

 absolutely undisturbed from March to the middle of July, 

 I had great hope, until I heard the above, of finding Ospreys 

 on the numerous lakes ; but with a reward paid for both 

 birds and eggs in Norway (I believe also in Sweden), and 

 the birds systematically driven away in Russian Lapland, the 

 species may well become scarce. 



31. Phalacrocorax carbo. Cormorant. 



32. Phalacrocorax graculus. Shag. 

 Several seen on different parts of the coast. 



