46o FROM YENESEISK TO TOMSK 



loud tic-tic-tic. These proved to be Pallas's grasshopper- 

 warbler, Locustella certhiola. On one occasion I heard 

 a similar sound, very loud and harsh, emanating from 

 some sedges near a pool. Presently the bird came in 

 view perching on a reed, and I felt sure I had a large 

 reed-warbler. It turned out, however, to be a male 

 ruby-throated warbler. Frequenting the willows I also 

 found the yellow-breasted bunting and the tree-pipit. In 

 the neighbourhood of the running water and muddy 

 banks sandpipers were numerous. Three species were 

 almost equally abundant— the common sandpiper, Tem- 

 minck's stint, and the green sandpiper. 



There did not appear to be much actual migration 

 going on. Starlings were collected together in great 

 flocks, but probably remained until driven away by cold 

 weather. Now and then a small party of cranes passed 

 overhead, generally flying south. Boiling told me that 

 the swallows ought to have left before our return to 

 Yeneseisk. When we first arrived house-martins were 

 swarming, having bred on the church-towers; a few 

 lingered for a week, but their number appeared to 

 diminish daily. Occasionally I saw a swallow, which 

 did not seem to be a common bird at that season. On 

 the other hand sand-martins flew over the meadows 

 or skimmed over the Yenesei in thousands. Both 

 the common and tree-sparrows congregated in large 

 flocks. Hawks were very numerous; there was a large 

 brown buzzard, a dark-coloured kite, and several small 

 hawks. 



Boiling meanwhile was busy superintending the 

 unpacking of Nordenskiold's goods. It was remarkable 

 how little damage they had suffered, after having lain 

 for a year at Koreopoffsky. On the whole the various 

 articles imported seemed to give satisfaction. Norden- 



