350 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



June 8. 



On Tuesday, the 8th of June, we finished blowing and 

 cataloguing our eggs, 120 in number. 



Four eggs of the Oystercatcher were brought in, three 

 from one nest and one from a second, from the other side 

 of the river. Taken three hundred miles from the sea, a 

 nest of Oystercatchers' eggs has considerable interest 

 attaching to it. 



The new arrival to-day was the Little Ringed Plover. 

 We took a turn out late in the evening without expecting 

 to get any birds, but in the marsh and tundra patch at 

 the north end of the town a bird rose, and I at once 

 cried out, ' That's a Little Einged Plover.' It settled 

 again close to us and Seebohm shot it. 



We also added to the Ust Zylma list two Terek Sand- 

 pipers, and we also shot two Stints. 



June 9. 



On Wednesday, the 9th of June, we packed assiduously. 

 A Kouropatki (Willow Grouse) was our new arrival for 

 to-day. It was brought to us, the first we have seen 

 here. It is in semi-white plumage i.e., head and neck 

 in summer plumage, body changing from the winter 

 plumage. Some years Winter Grouse are exceedingly 

 abundant here, and others very scarce indeed. 



One of our engaged men has been unwell, or pre- 

 tending to be so, in order to get more money. He is a 

 Samoyede, and according to all accounts an adept at 

 finding nests. We have yielded, and promised to give 

 give him two roubles more than before, and afterwards 

 if he gets plenty of eggs three, four, or five roubles 

 more. His original engagement was for fifteen roubles per 

 month. 



We dined with M. Znaminsky, and he presented a very 

 fine white Savik to Seebohm, and Seebohm in return 



