72 Messrs. Alston and Brown's Notes from Archangel. 



the river Swir ; but we did not meet with any of these on the 

 islands of the delta. 



88. Sterna hirundo. This was the only Tern observed 

 by us in the district. One pair of birds laid two eggs in a 

 nest from which we had previously taken four eggs of Xenus 

 cinereus. This species was abundant on the outer islands, 

 and also further up the river at Cholmogory. 



Obs. — Chr otocephalus minutus. A few examples of this 

 lovely little Gull were observed on the Swir river ; but we saw 

 none near Archangel, where we expected to find them breed- 

 ing ; nor did our boatmen seem to know the bird. There are 

 specimens in the Museum. 



89. Chroicocephalus ridibundus. The Black-headed Gull 

 was only seen at Cholmogory, where a flock of about forty 

 individuals frequented a small shallow pond behind the town. 



90. Larus canus. Very common, especially on the outer 

 islands. 



91. Larus argentatus. Common. 



92. Larus fuscus. Common. 



93. Larus marinus. Common, but breeding in single 

 pairs, not in colonies. 



Obs. — There is a specimen of Lestris pomatorhina in the 

 Museum. 



94. Eudytes septentrionalis. The Red-throated Diver is 

 very abundant on all suitable islands ; and we obtained both 

 eggs and young birds. 



95. Eudytes arcticus. Even more abundant than the last, 

 and often seen flying in flocks of a dozen or more. Further 

 to the north great numbers of Black-throated Divers are 

 killed by the Samoyedes for the sake of the skin of the neck, 

 of which very handsome muffs and trimmings for ladies' dresses 

 are made. 



Obs. — One specimen ol E. glaciahs was seen on the Swir 

 river ; 



