2t2 ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS 



was further increased by the Wild Swan and the Herring-Gull. There are 

 two species of Swan which pass through Ust Zylma on their way to the delta 

 to breed — the Hooper or Wild Swan and Bewick's Swan ; but we found it 

 impossible to identify them upon the wing. The Herring- Gull might fairly 

 be called the Arctic Herring-Gull : the mystery of its Latin name I must leave 

 my friend Mr. Howard Saunders to unravel. The colour of the mantle is 

 intermediate between that of leucophceus and fuscus. The colour of the soft 

 parts is the same as that of the Mediterranean bird. 



The 12th of May was distinguished by the first shower of rain and by 

 the arrival of the first strictly insectivorous birds— the White Wagtail, the 

 Redstart, and the Meadow- Pipit. 



On the 13th we saw the first flock of Ducks (probably the Pintail), and 

 a Peregrine Falcon ; on the following day we saw the first Reed-Bunting ; and 

 on the 15th the small flock of Gulls on the Petchora was reinforced by a 

 large flock of common Gulls (^Larus canus), and we saw fourteen large ones 

 flying up the great river, which were, no doubt, Glaucous Gulls, as we after- 

 wards found this species common at the Golievski Islands. 



The arrival of summer was the signal for birds of passage to appear en 

 masse. On the 17th of May flocks of Golden Plover, as well as of Fieldfares 

 and Redwings were seen. Small flocks of geese and swans, and large flocks 

 of ducks, were continually observed flying down the great river. Flocks of 

 Meadow-Pipits continually passed ; and for the first time we noticed flocks 

 of the Red-throated Pipit. Snow-Buntings and Redpoles were no longer 

 seen in the streets ; but their place was taken by flocks of White Wagtails, and 

 for the first time we saw the Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla viridis^. 

 On the 18th the Lapland Bunting, the Whimbrel, and the Teal appeared. 

 The last flock of Snow-Buntings was seen ; but the Shore-Larks were as 

 common as ever. 



On the 19th we identified the Shoveller, the Golden-eye, and the 

 Widgeon ; but these birds may have arrived on the 13th, as flocks of ducks 

 were common after that date. We also identified a Greenshank. 



