372 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



tick, tick ' as they flew round the pool, or swam on its 

 surface in eager pursuit of insects. 



We found two nests of Reed Buntings, and Simeon, 

 the Samoyede, found a Swan's nest with three eggs, 

 which .we agreed to leave until later, in order, if 

 possible, to get a shot at the bird. 



When we returned to the boat we found the Captain, 

 Piottuch, and an old friend of the latter 's making merry. 

 The old friend is the priest here, and was formerly priest at 

 Mezen. It is eight years since Piottuch and he met, and 

 they were, Piottuch tells me, great friends. Engel was 

 screwed and Piottuch was also stupid, the three having 

 finished two bottles of vodky between them. There are 

 upwards of forty good birds lying waiting to be skinned, 

 and Piottuch has been terribly off work of late. 



June 19. 



On Saturday, the 19th of June, I lay in wait for the 

 Swan, but she came not. 



Mosquitoes were about in force, and under the shelter 

 of the scrub-willow, out of the wind, they punished 

 severely. They were of the small species, with no hump. 

 I slew many for identification, but principally from a 

 craving for blood for blood. 



Crossing over the river, I shot a new bird to our list 

 two Long-tailed Ducks, $ and ? at one shot, and several 

 more were seen, including two $ , which Captain Engel 

 gave us to skin. They were heard repeatedly also, crying 

 as distinctly as possible ' Kolguev.' We suppose they go 

 there to breed ! ' Forrard to the norrard is the cry ! ' 



I also saw a Skua Buffon's, I think, but I cannot be 

 sure of the species. It showed a dark mark on each side 

 of the neck and the centre tail feathers were very long. 

 It was not Richardson's and seemed large for Buffon's. 



We proceeded about 8 a.m. 



