ARCHANGEL 131 



the River Warbler (L. fluviatilis), the Rustic Bunting 

 (Emberiza rustica), the Little Bunting (E. pusilla), the 

 Yellow-breasted Bunting (E. aureola), the Two-barred 

 Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata), Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler 

 (Locustella certhiola), Larus cachinnans, and the Smew 

 (Mergus albellus). 



Herr Meves preserved forty-one specimens of the Little 

 Gull (Larus minutus) obtained on the Ladoga Canal, near 

 Novaja Ladoga, in 1871, but this species is very rare at 

 Archangel, and was never seen by us. 



A large collection of skins was made by a man em- 

 ployed by Hoffmansegg after he had left, which passed 

 into the custody of one of Mr. Dresser's friends there, 

 who wrote to Mr. Dresser that Meves saw them and said 

 there were several rare Eastern birds among them. He 

 offered a considerable sum for the pick, but they would 

 only sell the lot. Mr. Dresser wished to get them, 

 and afterwards had his pick, Mr. Frank, of London, 

 getting the remainder, of which I bespoke some. We 

 saw the collection, but there were not many rare birds 

 in it. 



As to our choice of routes, after considering the ques- 

 tion of proceeding to the White Sea by sea or by over- 

 land journey from St. Petersbourg, we decided on the 

 latter, as the steamers, whether sailing from Dundee or 

 London for the White Sea direct, or from Shields or Hull 

 for Trondjhem, and thence by coasters, were too un- 

 certain and started too late in the season. 



We ascertained that the overland route would be by 

 rail to St. Petersbourg, and thence to Archangel either by 

 sledge or driving, according to time of leaving the dis- 

 tance of this land journey being 1,104 versts (= 750 

 miles) from St. Petersbourg to Archangel. This was de- 

 scribed to us as being by good road all the way, and not 

 difficult unless the winter ice has begun to break up, in 



