ARCHANGEL 169 



which case they made sure of finding her. But on 

 proceeding further they found tracks not ten minutes 

 old, the bent grass still fresh on the break, showing that 

 it had been close to them, and had ' marscherum ' (i.e., 

 1 departed,' or, literally, 'walked off!'). Whereupon 

 Piottuch said it must have been a male, and that there 

 was no chance of catching him without a dog. So there 

 was another Bear-sell ! 



They got a few birds, lost a Hazel Grouse, and 

 obtained a Northern or Siberian Jay, Crested Titmouse, 

 three Kustic Buntings (male, female, and young one), 

 a young Kedwing, etc. They reached home about 1 a.m. 

 next day. 



Meanwhile Carl and I stayed in and skinned the birds, 

 and in the afternoon slept for three hours. 



In the evening we (Carl and I) went again to the 

 Bunting-ground, where I shot eight, losing three, and 

 Karl shot two. I killed one ' youngish,' nearly full- 

 grown, and Carl also knocked over a large Hawk, 

 which, from his description, was probably a hen 

 Harrier, but when he was just putting his hand on it, 

 it recovered, got up, and flew away. 



July 14. 



It was about 1 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, the 

 14th of July, when Alston and Piottuch returned with 

 their account of the Bear, and we had a big ' Bear- 

 talk ' before going to rest., and determined to go on 

 Monday in search of Bruin, if only we can get a good 

 dog, as without one it would be no use. Unfortunately 

 we were unable to meet with a right dog, and had 

 reluctantly to give up the project. 



We prepared for a start this afternoon, first intending 

 to go to Chircha (or Shirsha), on the way to Archangel, 

 fifty versts distant from here ; but when we actually 



