162 



SIBERIA IN EUROPE. 



CHAP. XIV. 



just beginning to build. Once or twice a white -tailed eagle 

 hovered overhead. In long grass covering the raised bank 

 of the island, we discovered a black-cock's * nest containing 

 five eggs ; also a widgeon's nest with seven eggs, and a 

 teal's with six. 



The next afternoon we left the Yorsa river ; the day was 

 fine, but the wind contrary. We stopped for an hour at 

 Churvinski Ostroff, and had a short stroll on shore armed 

 with walking-stick guns. My companion shot a tree-sparrow, 

 and I a small spotted woodpecker. We also started a three- 

 toed woodpecker out of its hole in a tree ; I shot it, when 

 immediately the female came up, and I secured her also. We 

 whistled for our boatmen, who, by our orders, cut down the 

 tree. The bird's hole was about fifteen feet from the ground, 

 descending nine inches perpendicularly ; there was no lining 

 in it, except plenty of saw- or rather beak-dust. It con- 

 tained two newly-hatched birds and one egg. On our way 

 back we shot a pair of yellow-headed wagtails ; the female 

 had dry grass in her beak, which sjie was evidently carrying 

 to build her nest. The male was not fully mature, having 

 the nape brown, and dark feathers amongst the yellow of the 

 crown. The yellow of the hen bird was much less brilliant 

 than that of her mate ; and the head and cheeks were 

 greenish brown, with the exception of a pale yellow streak 

 over each eye, meeting across the forehead. A few miles 



* The black grouse (Tetrao tetrix, 

 Linn.), the well-known " black game " 

 of the British sportsman, appears to be 

 found throughout the pine and birch 



regions of Europe and Asia, extending 

 eastwards as far as Korth China, where, 

 however, it is said to be a rare bird. 



