ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS IN 

 NORTH-EAST RUSSIA. 



By henry SEEBOHM, F.Z.S. 



When my friend J. A. Harvie-Brown and myself planned our excursion to the 

 valley of the Lower Petchora, in the spring of the year 1875, we were under 

 the impression that this remote corner of Europe was virgin ground for the 

 ornithologist. We discovered, however, whilst preparing for our journey in 

 Archangel, that this district had been visited many years ago by Hencke 

 and Hoffmannsegg ; but so far as we have been able to ascertain, it does not 

 appear that these naturalists published any thing respecting the ornithology 

 of the Petchora. The information which we obtained may therefore be 

 practically regarded as new. 



Upon a subject so difficult as the migration of birds it is impossible to 

 speak very definitely from the observations of a single season ; but the facts 

 which we obtained may serve as a valuable basis for the researches of future 

 ornithologists. 



The journey to the Petchora is beset with peculiar difficulties. There 

 are two ways of travelling from Archangel to Ust Zylma — the winter road, 

 and the summer route. The winter road is by sledge, sometimes on the ice 

 of the frozen rivers, sometimes across swamps covered over with snow, but 

 generally through the forests. As soon as the sun becomes powerful enough 

 to melt the frozen crust of snow upon these roads the winter post ceases, 

 and the horses at the stations upon the last two hundred and fifty versts, 

 where there are no villages, are withdrawn, and the valley of the Lower 

 Petchora is as effectually cut off from all communication with civilized 



