VIII 



CASES OF ADAPTATION 



137 



to breed are two species of wild swans and the bean goose. 

 So early as ioth May they began to arrive, passing over 

 Ust-Zylma (Lat. 66° N.) in flocks, where, by constructing 

 a shelter, Mr. Seebohm was able to shoot one. Even these 

 large birds find ample food on the tundra to breed there ; 

 for just before leaving the country, when near the mouth of 



Fig. 14. — Geese Moulting 

 as they migrate South over the Tundra (July and August). 



the Petchora River, he saw them returning southward with 

 their young. He writes : 



" I had not gone more than a mile when I heard the cackle of 

 geese ; a bend of the river's bed gave me an opportunity of stalking 

 them, and when I came within sight I beheld an extraordinary and 

 interesting scene. One hundred, at least, old geese, and quite as 

 many young ones, perhaps twice or even thrice that number, were 

 marching like a regiment of soldiers. The vanguard, consisting of 

 old birds, was half-way across the stream, the rear, composed 

 principally of goslings, was running down the steep bank towards 

 the water's edge as fast as their young legs could carry them. Both 

 banks of the river, where the geese had doubtless been feeding, 

 were strewn with feathers, and in five minutes I picked up a 



