DAN MEINERTZHAGEN'S DIARY. 90 



attract them, and in the middle of it all the 

 humourous postman, who will keep making 

 jokes we don't understand, is trying to get 

 more than 50 ore for three WhimbrePs eggs 

 which he came across in the execution of his 

 duties. 



Last night we saw for the first time six or 

 seven Swifts flying round the church steeple, 

 but they are gone to-day. 



I wish I had brought some more methylated 

 spirits, since now the most interesting young 

 birds are coming in, and my jars are chock full. 



June 2jrd. To-day being beastly wet and cold 

 we finished our packing, which was no small job, 

 as either to-morrow or the next day, we expect 

 Peter Johann, whom we told to come from 

 Keniovuopio to fetch us. I'm only taking my 

 bag and gun case, and an empty box for 

 eggs, in case I get any on the way up, and my 

 live birds. All the eggs (2,000), and skins, 

 embryos, and skeletons, I'm sending down the 

 river to Torneo by boat, thence to be shipped 

 to England. I only hope they'll arrive before 

 1 do, or there'll be considerable anxiety. I'm 

 almost ashamed of the quantities of birds' eggs 

 I've taken. It looks as if I'd been robbing the 

 country around of everything, but it is not so ; 

 I've found three times as many eggs as I've 



