404 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



that if a bird rose I could at any time slip my right 

 hand out quickly enough to shoot, even when it was a snap- 

 shot. Seebohm has hitherto worn the cavalry gauntlets 

 recommended by Kae, but I have not as yet ventured. 



The wind changed at last, and was now blowing down- 

 stream but gently. Soon the ice will leave the coast at 

 last, and our long-wished-for but only lately-planned trip 

 to Varandai will, we trust, take place. We give up the 

 Golaievski Banks and the Timanski coast, as it is almost 

 a trip of magnitude to either, whereas Varandai, though 

 a longer voyage, can be more easily done ; and being 

 further east and reported as good for birds and quite in the 

 track of migrants, and having shores, sandy and grassy, 

 suitable resorts for the Little Stint and possibly the 

 Curlew Sandpiper ; having a cooler temperature, owing to 

 the Arctic ice lying along the shore longer in summer and 

 causing the birds to breed later, we have decided, and 

 with Arendt's kind promise of assistance, planned our 

 trip there. The steamer is to take us, and land us there 

 with our men and boat, and return for us in ten days 

 afterwards. (As will be seen this excursion was never 

 made out.) 



For some time past Ducks have been seen still on 

 migration, high in air, making, no doubt, for the distant 

 breeding haunts in the Arctic Seas. One large flock we 

 thought were Eiders passed yesterday. 



July 7. 



On Wednesday, the 7th of July, the wind was south, 

 warm and strong. 



We had frantic struggles with mosquitoes in our room, 

 and in the end were fairly successful. We got door fixed 

 up in ' moi doma ' and holes stuffed up, etc. 



To-day Seebohm and I went over our Ducks' downs 

 carefully, and on the whole satisfactorily, and I give here 



