GREY PLOVER. 47 



abundant. In some places there were abundance of cranberries with last 

 yearns fruit still eatable_, preserved by the frost and snow of winter. Here 

 and there we met with a dwarf shrub not unlike a rhododendron, with a 

 white flower and aromatic-scented leaves {Ledum palustre), a heath-like 

 plant with a pale red flower [Andromeda polifoUa), and dwarf birch (Betula 

 nana) running on the ground almost like ivy. The flat boggy places had 

 evidently been shallow lakes a few weeks ago after the sudden thaw, and 

 were now black swamps, in the middle grown over with yellow-green moss, 

 and full of sedge towards the margin. They were separated from each 

 other by tussocky ridges of moor, which intersected the plain like the 

 veins on the rind of a melon. We found no difficulty in going where we 

 liked; our india-rubber waterproofs were all-sufficient. We crossed the 

 wettest bogs with impunity, seldom sinking more than a foot before 

 reaching a good foundation, a solid pavement of ice. Birds were but 

 thinly scattered over the ground ; but there were sufficient to keep our 

 curiosity on the qui vive. The commonest bird was the Lapland Bunting; 

 and we took two of their nests in the tussocky ridges between the little 

 bogs. The next commonest bird was the Red-throated Pipit; and we took 

 two of their nests in similar positions. As we marched across the tundra 

 we fell in with some Dunlins, and took a couple of their nests. This was 

 encouraging. The Dunlin was a bird we had not seen at Ust Zylma, and 

 one possibly that migrated direct across country from Ust Ussa. 



We had not walked more than a couple of miles inland before we came 

 upon a small party of Plovers. They were very wild, and we found it 

 impossible to get within shot of them ; but a distant view through our 

 binoculars almost convinced us that we had met with the Grey Plover at 

 last. We had not walked very far before other Plovers rose ; and we deter- 

 mined to commence a diligent search for the nest, and offered half a rouble 

 to any of our men who should find one. Our interpreter laughed at us, and 

 marched away into the tundra with a " C^est impossible. Monsieur. ^^ We 

 appealed to our Samoyede, who stroked his beardless chin, and cautiously 

 replied " mozhna '' (possible) . The other men wandered aimlessly up and 

 down; but the Samoyede tramped the ground systematically, and after 

 more than an hour^s search found a nest on one of the dry tussocky ridges 

 intersecting the bog, containing four eggs about the size and shape of 

 those of the Golden Plover, but more like those of the Lapwing in colour. 

 The nest was a hollow, evidently scratched, perfectly round, somewhat 

 deep, and containing a handful of broken slender twigs and reindeer-moss. 

 Harvie-Brown concealed himself as well as he could behind a ridge to lie 

 in wait for the bird returning to the nest, and after half an hour^s watching 

 shot a veritable Grey Plover. 



Soon afterwards another of our men found a second nest, also containing 

 four eggs, in exactly a similar situation. Harvie-Brown took this nest 



