PETCHORA 287 



The wings of these larger and whiter birds measure 

 from 3'03 to 3'08 inches, and the tails from 2*67 to 2 68 

 inches, and those of the smaller males measure wings, 

 2-88 to 3'01 ; tails, 2'50 to 2'65. The females measure- 

 wings, 2'78 to 2'97 ; tails, 2'50 to 2'59. 



A small male has a dark rose-colour on the breast, and, 

 as far as memory can be trusted, is similar to all those 

 obtained by Alston and myself at Archangel in 1872, 

 and which Dresser identified as more like the Lesser Red- 

 poll. The colour on the breast is much richer and denser 

 than in birds obtained in Scotland, and appears also 

 different from the carmine or pale rose upon the larger, 

 lighter-coloured birds, but this may possibly arise from 

 this bird being more adult. In this smaller dark-rose- 

 breasted specimen there is also a tinge of paler-rose or 

 carmine on the rump, which rosy tinge is absent in all 

 the females we have examined. 



The undertail coverts of the larger males are also 

 white, with no dark centre, whilst all the others have a 

 dark central streak, including the above-mentioned dark- 

 rose-breasted small male (No. 40 of our list). 



Another small male has a distinct golden tinge on the 

 crown, and others show this more indistinctly. 



To-day we strolled out of the town up the riverside. 

 Seebohm shot a $ Yellowhammer in the town, and we 

 saw a splendid old $ Hen Harrier, which was evidently 

 diligently seeking for food in a small village about two 

 versts from Ust Zylma, going away and returning, flying 

 back and forwards, but never offering a fair shot. This, 

 Seebohm says, is the same bird he saw yesterday. 



I fired again into a large flock of Snow Buntings, and 

 bagged 20, some of which are very handsome, and one or 

 two of the males show single black drop-like markings on 

 the otherwise pure white of the rump ; others still retain 

 the ochre on the rump in considerable quantity. 



