286 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



upward connections of the stoves, so that now he can 

 have no cooking done in the house. 



Every one assists to extinguish a fire in a Russian 

 village, and, as before mentioned, each peasant has to 

 supply some particular article and bring it to the place. 

 Thus we saw the peasants, some armed with wooden 

 shovels, others with axes, etc., etc. 



May 6. 



On Thursday, the 6th of May, the storm of snow con- 

 tinued, and everything is again white, and not the slightest 

 sign of summer. It is rather tiresome, but there is no 

 help for it, and after all it is wonderful, too, how time 



May 7. 



On Friday, the 7th of May, the snow still continued 

 during the greater part of the forenoon, changing to hail 

 and a little sleet. 



We have shot a number of Redpolls and compared 

 them. Close under our window yesterday a number 

 came and fed, and seemed to keep company with the 

 Snow Buntings, which, as usual on the return of snowy 

 weather, are again to be seen in flocks in the street and 

 on the great dung-hills (and valleys) of Ust Zylma. But 

 the Snow Buntings are by far the wilder birds, much 

 more easily startled ; and when I raised my hand at the 

 window the Redpolls would take no notice, while the 

 Buntings would fly suddenly up with a startled cry and 

 alight again. 



Amongst these flocks of Redpolls there are some larger 

 birds, conspicuous from their white plumage, the pure- 

 ness of the white on the rump (or tinged with carmine), 

 the carmine on the breast, and, perhaps, as conspicuously 

 as any, the white edging of the feathers of the bastard 

 wing ; and are easily recognised at a considerable distance. 

 These are male birds. 



