LONG-TAILED DUCK. 599 



Duck. The Eiders and tlie Scoters may breed as far north, but they are 

 not so exclusively arctic birds. Neither in the valley of the Petchora nor 

 in that of the Yenesay did we see anything of the Long-tailed Duck on 

 migration, nor did wc meet with it until we had travelled northwards 

 beyond the limit of forest-growth. It is essentially a bird of the tundra, 

 and there we found it common enough in both localities as far north as we 

 went. Although it is almost exclusively a salt-water bird in winter, it 

 migrates uj) the river for one or two hundred miles or more to breed, and 

 appears to prefer the vicinity of fresh water, though it is found throughout 

 the tundra from the coast to the scraggy larches on the outskirts of the 

 forest. Probably the explanation of its almost exclusive attachment to 

 salt water in winter is to be found in the fact that it rarely winters in a 

 climate where all the fresh water is not frozen up. The tundra is full of 

 lakes of all sizes, many of them connected together by small streams which 

 rise in the flat bogs which form such an important feature in the Arctic 

 landscape. There is no English equivalent for the Russian word tundra. 

 To translate the Siberian tundra into Siberian barrens is only possible to 

 a writer who has never seen this ornithological and botanical Eldorado. 

 The margins of the lakes and rivers of the tundra are gay with many 

 coloured mosses and lichens, and with a brilliant Arctic flora, of which 

 the variety of species of ground-fruit form a not unimportant part; 

 and in this district the Long-tailed Duck is the commonest species of the 

 family. We found the smaller lakes generally inhabited by single pairs, 

 whilst on the larger ones several pairs Avere often seen swimming about. 

 There seemed to be an understanding between them that they must not 

 invade each others' breeding-grounds ; for on several occasions we witnessed 

 severe fights, both on the wing and on the water, between these birds. 

 We found them exceedingly tame, and were able to approach them as they 

 swam about unconcernedly on the smaller lakes within twenty or thirty 

 yards of us. There was seldom any occasion to take advantage of what 

 little cover might be found ; but, in spite of their boldness, they were very 

 difficult to shoot. The moment the trigger was pulled the Duck disap- 

 peared, as if by magic, to reappear again unhurt at a safer distance. They 

 rival the Guillemots or the Grebes in the rapidity with which they dive, 

 the length of time they remain immersed, and the distance they can travel 

 under water. They fly with great rapidity, their somewhat short wings 

 moving at a great speed, and though the direction of their flight is gene- 

 rally straight, they turn their bodies from side to side as they slightlv 

 change their course. 



The note of the Long-tailed Duck is very remarkable and often heard 

 at their breeding-grounds, though it is said only to be uttered by the male. 

 It is a loud, clear cry of three principal syllables, the middle one prolonged 

 and strongly accented. It may be roughly expressed as col-goh'-y or 



