DAN MEINERTZHAGEN'S DIARY. 28 



seems astonishing that there should not be more, 

 but I was out from eleven to seven. 



There were a lot of loose reindeer grazing 

 about in the forest, and, ungainly as they are, 

 they looked very picturesque on the snow 

 among the firs. 



Bob came home more successful, having found 

 a nest of Cross Bills just hatching. The four 

 embryos I put in spirit, and two of the eggs 

 which had only cracked I have kept. They 

 are very similar to those of the Greenfinch. 

 He also saw some more Siberian Tits, and a 

 Northern Black-bellied Dipper. The nests of 

 the Jay and the Cross Bill I have described 

 elsewhere. 



April 2}rd. Went out to the east of the 

 village. In a hollow about seven miles from the 

 town, I saw just in front of me a fine Cross 

 Bill cross the track. I walked after it into the 

 wood, and just as I got within shot, I heard a 

 "mobbing" going on ahead, so I spared the 

 Cross Bill, and went for the "mobbing/' 

 supposing there might be an Owl, and sure 

 enough there was a Hawk Owl sitting on the 

 top of a very high fir tree, being " mobbed " by 

 Siberian Jays. The Owl didn't seem the 

 slightest bit afraid of me, so I sat down and ate 

 my lunch which consisted of some chocolate and 



