238 HKITISH BIRDS. [vol. ix. 



almost two oars' lengths from the boat before I saw it. 

 It does not sound a notable feat for a bird to cross a 

 river, but it must be remembered that even at this 

 point, two hundi-ed miles from the sea, the Yenesei is 

 more than two-thirds as ^ide as the Straits of Dover ; 

 it forms, in fact, a nat\n'al gateAvay to Asia, M'hose 

 grandeur is only equalled by its solitude. 



