BIRDS OF KOLGUEV 425 
those were moulted out, but those full-winged did not fly. Of the 
adults, two forms were clearly distinguishable. In the majority, the 
lower breast and belly were slaty, but a large proportion had these 
parts light as mother-of-pearl: and there were some old birds in which 
the light fringe of the slate-coloured breast feathers was so wide that the 
bird could not easily be referred to either category. In one bird, a male, 
in my possessson, the neck and the tail feathers are light brown ; apart 
from this, it may almost be called a white bird. 
Cygnus bewicki VARRELL. Bewick’s Swan. 
Lebed. Chipouna (R.). Horéh (S.). 
I judge it best to give from my diary the first references to these 
swans. 
June 16, just below the Kriva river. ‘As we were walking down 
a pair of swans came flying past quite low down. As they approached, 
attracted I think, by old Sailor, they turned and began circling round 
us. We had heard them some way off. The noise they made was 
not in the least like that of a whooper. It was a kind of “honk” 
uttered at intervals, and I had thought was the cry of geese. I looked 
at them with the glass; the sun full on them. They were so close that 
it was perfectly easy to distinguish the face,’-—ze. the shortness and 
shape of the orange (not yellow) which looked ved—‘ they were Bewicks. 
I was so much interested in watching them that I never thought of 
shooting till Hyland woke me up, saying, “Shoot, sir!” I had just 
time to change one of my dust cartridges for s.s.g., and fired at the 
second swan as they were getting rather out of range. The bird, 
struck in the side, fell, or rather flew down slantingly—the other bird 
flying up and down above it—and pitched about 200 yards away. On 
Hyland going up it rose and flew on, accompanied by its mate, for 
perhaps another 300 yards, very low over the tundra. I called Hyland 
back, saying we should find the bird on the way home. And sure 
enough, as I passed on our hurried return, there was the swan (within 
a hundred yards), but we could not then wait. One bird flew off; 
the other remained in a sitting position. I was terribly sorry about 
1 For reasons explained under this date. 
