CHAP. xvi. BOLVANKAYA BUCHT. 



193 



bers on the dry or drying mud, but we could find no trace of 

 their nests. Phalaropes single and in flocks were common ; 

 we took three of their nests, also one of a tern. Ducks as 

 usual abounded ; we noticed among them a pair of shovel- 

 lers, and carried off a nest containing three eggs and a little 

 down, which belonged to this bird. On the river we con- 

 tinually passed flocks of scaup and black scoter. 



The sketch of Stanavialachta at the head of this chapter 

 was taken from the eyrie of one of the peregrines ; the 

 second eyrie was ha] f- way down the point to the extreme 

 left. To the right in the distance is the eastern boundary 

 of the Bolvankaya Bucht ; to the left, the outer islands of the 

 Delta. 



OLD RUSSIAN SILVER CROSS. 







