A VISIT TO A BREEDING-PLACE OF THE PELICAN. 245 
breeding-place, with fresh eggs, has been likewise found; we 
shall fetch them as soon as possible. Ferdinand has also brought 
with him more than two hundred Pelican's eggs. Sterna hirundo 
also breeds there, as well as Larus ridibundus. The nests of 
the latter rest upon the leaves of water-lilies; the young are 
already well-fledged. The larger specimens having been left 
behind at the “skelle” (a landing-place for boats), situated to 
the west, we take a carriage and drive there, and an hour later 
reach the place. The young Swans in down, of the size of a 
Goose, are particularly pretty ; but unfortunately we shall be able 
to skin but very few, for the heat is intense, and the birds begin 
to smell; we shall do our best, however, and shall at all events 
preserve the skeletons. Thus we are again engrossed with work. 
It is most important that we should proceed to the neighbourhood 
of the colony, in order to work there, because, at this distance, 
it is almost impossible to obtain fresh birds. Of course our 
sojourn there will be attended with many difficulties—swarms of 
mosquitos (Culex pipiens), contaminated air, undrinkable water ! 
About half-way in the Balta there is a fishing-hut, where possibly 
we may be able to stay. To-morrow the two Russians will drive 
to Lake Obreteno for a couple of days to shoot wild geese and 
divers. On their return we think of starting. We shall then be 
able to report more exactly from personal observation. At sunset 
we reached the village with our booty; we paid the men liberally, 
and then set to work at once. We worked until far into the 
night. First, a number of eggs were blown; they seemed to us 
larger than P. crispus. A Swan’s egg has also been found; the 
contents, however, were rotten, as we had expected. Two Anas 
nyroca and two Larus ridibundus were skinned. The colony is 
said not to be half so large as it was last year. The old birds 
behaved very shyly, and, after repeated shooting, flew away 
altogether, so that unfortunately many of the abandoned young 
ones died of starvation. Altogether the birds seem to be badly 
off for food. A great many Sea Eagles and Marsh Harriers made 
their appearance at the colony this morning. Bearded Tits are 
everywhere frequently seen, as well as Moorhens and a single 
Bittern (Ardea stellaris), but only four Ardea garzetta. On one 
island were found some last year’s nests of the Little Cormorant 
(Carbo pygmeus), ‘‘Malenka Paklan,” as the Russians call it, 
some old willow shrubs, it is said, being quite studded with them. 
