132 OUR VOYAGE TO THE DELTA 



was breeding on this island, while ruffs, phalaropes, and 

 Temminck's stint abounded upon it. On one part, 

 covered with dwarf willows, interspersed with taller trees, 

 I heard to my astonishment the warble of the biberian 

 chiffchaff, two specimens of" which I secured. The red- 

 throated pipits were there perching, as usual, in the 

 boughs, and I noticed also one or two of our new pipits 

 and a number of reed-buntings. 



This bird-haunted island was our last stoppage before 

 reaching Alexievka. We arrived at our destination on 

 the evening of the 19th of June, after ten days voyage 

 down the great river and through the intricacies of the 

 monotonous delta. 



PLOUGHING AT UST-ZYLMA 



