Distribution of Birds in Xurth Unssiti. 281 



5. Abrdmof (66° 42' N. hit.).— About 20 miles fiutlK-r 

 down the river. Situated on the west bank. Here willow- 

 swanij).s and bireh-woods hitely under the overHow of the 

 river ; a little to the southward the land rises at one plaee, 

 and a few stunted pines are to be seen. The village is small 

 and unim])ortant. 



Stayed here a few hours on June 15th. 



6. IV.s7i-/ (67*^ iry X. hit.). — 37 miles lower down the river, 

 and situated on tlie west bank close to the head of the delta — 

 a considerable village, with some extent of pasturage for 

 cattle. SuiTOunded by willow-thickets and birch of small 

 growth. Some of the peasants are very wealthy ; and the 

 houses are good. Here also there is a good shop, where many 

 necessaries can be purchased and some few luxuries. 



We stayed here and in the neighbourhood from June 16th 

 to 17th. 



7. Gorodok^ or Pustozersk (67° 31' N. hit.).— About 27 

 miles lower down the river. " The town " (Gorodok) is 

 situated on a circular bay, which is surrounded by a sandy 

 waste and tundra covered with stunted birch and juniper, 

 having in the hollows marshy-edged pools and willow-thickets. 

 AVe did not go to the town, but cncamj)ed near the entrance of 

 the circular bay and collected all night upon the sand-dunes 

 and tundra. 



Stayed here from evening of June 17th to June 18th at 

 4 A.M. 



8. Kmja (67° 45' N. lat.).— 25 miles further down the 

 river, on the east bank. Here there was sandy tundra, with 

 dense growth of dwarfed willow, and a good deal of open 

 pasturage for cows and a few sheep, and pools of water in tlie 

 sandy ground. An island opposite was covered with willow- 

 swamp, intersected by kurias and here and there open patches 

 of long rank herbage. 



Stayed here June 18th to 8 a.m. on the 19th. 



9. Alexievka Island (N. lat. V). — About 16 miles from 

 Kuya. Situated about 1| verst (1 mile) or less from the 

 cast bank. Willow-swamp and a few birches. About 40 

 versts of this kind of growth extend westward from Alexievka, 

 covering tlie whole delta. On the east bank lies the true 

 tundra, balmy witli the scent of the aromatic dwarf rliodo(k'n- 

 dron [Ledum palustre) J brilliant with the flowers of the delicious 

 " maroshka " [liuhus chamceniorus), luxuriant in its covering 

 of minute arctic plants, mosses, sphagnums, and lichens, and 

 glancing with innumerabh; lakes and pools of ])ure cold water. 



Alexievka was our headquarters from June 20th to the end 

 of our stay, August 2nd. 



10. Yoosliina liiver (N. lat.?). — About halfway between 



