TWELFTH DAY. 205 
ralist, in the strict sense of the word, for he had found the nest 
of a Penduline Tit in the midst of an almost impenetrable 
submerged thicket, where this truly artistic construction was 
hanging from the top of a willow-bush. 
It was with great difficulty that he had forced his “ esikel” 
up to the place, and then, instead of allowing himself to be 
led away by a hankering after the shooting of wild-fowl or 
birds of prey, he had resolved to spend some hours at the 
nest of these Tits, which he had never before seen in a wild 
state. To-day he only studied their habits and customs, and 
did not shoot these rare birds for our collection until the 
morrow. 
Dinner was now quickly despatched, and after the measure- 
ments and the notes were jotted down, perfect quiet soon 
prevailed on board the steamer. 
