220 Mr. H. J. Pearson on Birds 



3. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow-Bunting, 



This bird was fairly numerous in several places, and a few 

 were scattered over even the most desolate parts. We saw 

 young flying most days, and took nests with two fresli eggs on 

 July 26tli. 



4. Otocorys ALPESTRis. Shorc-Larli. 



Fairly numerous, but not so common as on Kolguev. 

 Like the preceding species, the young birds were generally 

 on the wing, yet we found a nest with one fresli egg on 

 July 24th. 



~5. NVCTEA SCANDIACA. SuOWy Owl. 



We saw six or eight of these birds and shot one, but 

 found no nest of the year, although we carefully searched all 

 likely places. There were several nests, one or two years old, 

 on the tops of mounds and bluffs near the river running into 

 the head of Belootcha Bay. The river of this name is not 

 shown on any map we have seen, and no doubt the shallow- 

 ness of the water at the head of the bay, combined with the 

 absence of any secure anchorage, has prevented this inlet and 

 district being explored by any but the Samoyeds, who have 

 a settlement on the western shore of the bay. The Saxon 

 River — as we named it after our yacht— is about 100 yards 

 wide at the point it ceases to be affected by the tide, and 

 flows in a south-westerly direction through Goose-land. It 

 evidently contains a good supply of fish {Salmo alpinus) in the 

 summer, as five Samoyeds from the settlement had gone up 

 to fish. In connection with the Snowy Owl we may say 

 that we never saw a live lemming during the whole time we 

 were in the country. The holes and workings of these animals 

 were fairly abundant in places ; but few of these were 

 fresh, and it certainly did not seem to be a good year 

 for lemmings. 



-f-6. Haliaetus albicilla. White-tailed Eagle. 



While fishing at Nechwatowa River a fine specimen of 

 this bird came near us. Unfortunately two Glaucous Gulls 

 drove it away before we were able to get a shot. 



