96 



SIBERIA IN EUROPE. 



trees ; this was interesting. I now made an excursion to. 

 the cachet of my companions. I had forgotten to wind my 

 watch, and made this an excuse for my visit. Halfway to 

 it, I came upon a small flock of reed-buntings, amongst some 

 willows, and missed a shot at one of them. My companion 

 had stuck heroically to his cachet, but had had no better 

 luck than mine. As we were chatting, we heard the note of 

 a bird, which I took to be a redstart. 



I followed the sound to some distance, but could not over- 

 take the bird on my snow-shoes. Setting out to return to 

 my cachet, I was interrupted by a flock of reed-buntings ; * 

 I got a shot at one, but the cap missing fire, away they flew. 

 I was returning disconsolately by the side of a thick but 

 narrow plantation, when I heard a " gag gag " through the 

 trees, and descried seven geese, apparently flying straight 

 for my companion's cachet. I fired, and down came a pair 

 of bullfinches ; the rest flying away ahead of me. I followed 

 in pursuit, but without getting a second shot ; on returning 

 I learnt my companion's success. He bad brought down a 

 " bean goose." t 



* The reed-bunting (^Ewberiza scJioe- 

 niclus, Linn.) is a resident species in the 

 British Islands, and breeds throughout 

 Northern and Central Europe and 

 Northern Asia. Wherever the winter 

 is severe it is a migratory bird, visiting 

 South Europe, North Africa, Persia, 

 Turkestan, India, and Japan. In the 

 valley of the Petchora we did not 

 observe it farther north than latitude 

 68°. 



t The bean goose (^Anser sege!um, 



Gmel.) appears to be confined to the 

 eastern hemisphere. It is doubtful 

 if it has ever bred in the British Islands, 

 but it is common in various parts during 

 winter. It does not breed far south of 

 the Arctic circle, frequenting principally 

 the tundras beyond the limit of forest 

 growth. In winter it is found in 

 various parts of temperate Europe, 

 occasionally crossing the Mediterranean 

 into North Africa. In Asia its winter 

 range appears to be confined to Asia 



