THE TUNDRA AND ITS ANIMAL LIFE. 81 



Likewise characteristic of the tundra are the birds of prey, or, 

 at least, their manner of life there is characteristic. For it is only 

 on the southern boundary of the region or among the heights that 

 there are trees or rocks on which they can build their eyries, and 

 they are perforce obliged to brood on the ground. Among the 

 winding branches of the dwarf -birch is the nest of the marsh-owl, 

 on its crown that of the rough-legged buzzard; on the bare ground 

 lie the eggs of the snowy-owl and the peregrine falcon, though the 

 latter chooses a place as near as possible to the edge of a gully, as 

 though he would deceive himself by vainly attempting to make up 

 for the lack of heights. That it and all the others are fully con- 

 scious of the insecurity of their nesting-place is shown by their 

 behaviour on the approach of man. From a distance the traveller 

 is watched suspiciously and is greeted with loud cries; the nearer 

 he approaches the greater grows the fear of the anxious parents. 

 Hitherto they have been circling at a safe distance, about twice as 

 far as a shot would carry, over the unfamiliar but dreaded enemy; 

 now they swoop boldly down, and fly so closely past his head that 

 he distinctly hears the sharp whirr of their wings, sometimes indeed 

 he has reason to fear that he will be actually attacked. Meanwhile 

 the young birds, which are visible even from a distance as white 

 balls, bend timidly down and await the approach of this enemy, — 

 suspected at least, if not known as such, — sitting so still in their 

 chosen, or perhaps forced position that one can sketch them without 

 fear of being disturbed by a single movement^a charming picture! 



Many other animals might be enumerated if I thought them 

 necessary to a picture of the tundra. At least one more is charac- 

 teristic — the mosquito. To call it the most important living creature 

 of the tundra would be scarcely an exaggeration. It enables not 

 a few of the higher animals, especially birds and fishes, to live; it 

 forces others, like man, to periodic wanderings; and it is in itself 

 enough to make the tundra uninhabitable in summer by civilized 

 beings. Its numbers are beyond all conception; its power conquers 

 man and beast; the torture it causes beggars description. 



It is well known that the eggs of all mosquitoes are laid in the 

 water, and that the larvse which creep forth in a few days remain 



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