DAN MEINERTZHAGEN'S DIARY. 68 



Wheat Ears about. Bob shot a Ruff, with an 

 almost white head and ruff. He says the flies 

 in the woods are very numerous to-day. To- 

 morrow we go woodpeckering. 



May 28th. To-day we went to Sirkojarvi, 

 some 12 miles away from 'Niska, and saw on 

 the way a Great Black Woodpecker, to which 

 we were first attracted by a low " boo," 

 like the first syllable of a Wood Owl's note. 

 We followed it some way, and saw it hewing 

 chunks of wood six inches long out of trees. 

 The only other note it made, was similar to 

 the single call of the Kestrel. 



In the evening we went to the nest where 

 Bob shot the Osprey, and took the three 

 eggs- I gt a clutch of Middle-spotted Wood- 

 pecker's eggs, and two clutches of Capercail- 

 zie's. We slept at the Finn's house on the 

 lake. 



May 2$th. We returned home, starting at 

 five o'clock in the morning, and reached here at 

 two, when we had a good meal. We saw the 

 great Black Woodpecker on the way back. 

 During the afternoon Bob caught six grayling, 

 and all within half an hour. They seem to lie 

 at present in the rapids just above any piece 

 of rough water. The men caught some trout in 

 the nets here for the first time. 



