SHOOTING WILD GEESE. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Mild weather — Bear tracks — Saddle of bear— First rain — Six new migratory 

 birds — Magpie's eggs — Cessation of the winter frost — Return of winter — A 

 wild goose chase — Cachets — Night on the banks of the Petchora — The silent 

 est — A new bird. 



Ox the 10th of May, for the first time we had real summer 

 weather, which continued for some days. It thawed in the 

 shade, as well as in the sun; as there was not much wind, 

 however, the snow melted slowly. We drove up the Zylma 

 and took a long walk in our snow-shoes, returning across the 

 island ; but the pine and birch woods were still almost 



