456 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



Soon after I met Seebohm, and while we were together 

 I shot two Bed-necked Phalaropes which flew towards us 

 across a lake, and alighted on the shore. 



I afterwards made the circuit of the lake in search for 

 more, and saw more Red-necked, but did not secure any 

 of them. 



I shot another young Dunlin in the same stage of 

 plumage as the last, and then proceeded to the Stints' 

 feeding-ground, whither Seebohm had gone before me. 



There I shot two Red-necked Phalaropes, but they 

 were far advanced in moulting, and another young 

 Dunlin. 



Seebohm had gone on to the far end of the promontory 

 the West Twin Cape and I saw him coming back 

 with what I at first thought was a Swan, but which on a 

 nearer approach I saw was a Snowy Owl. He had stalked 

 it as it sat on the beach, but before he got within range 

 it rose and flew across to the east side, and he again dis 

 covered it resting there, with his glass. As he lay looking 

 at it, it rose again and flew straight back towards him, 

 perhaps taking his fur cap, appearing above the bank, for 

 something which would be good to eat. It settled within 

 sixty yards, and Seebohm walked towards it, and as it 

 rose broke its wings with a slug-cartridge. It fell in 

 the river, but he secured it, the water being shallow. 



Seebohm also shot two Dunlins and a Little Stint, and 

 whilst in the act of retrieving them a Buffon's Skua 

 dashed down and carried off one of the former. Some- 

 thing having for some time been wrong with the 

 extractor of his gun, he was not able to load quickly 

 enough to secure the robber. 



When returning from the lake where I shot the 

 Phalaropes I again made a short search for the Stints. 

 One bird flew up and alighted, and I afterwards flushed 

 it again, but it flew straight away, alighting for a second 



