CHAPTER XYIII. 



Second visit to StanavialacMa— Peregrine falcons — Plague of mosquitoes — Mid- 

 night on the tundra — Nest of the velvet scoter — Little Feodor sent in quest of 

 the swan's skin — A Russian bath — Feeder's return — Identification of eggs of 

 Bewick's swan — Mosquito veils — Our eighth nest of grey plovers — Our servants 

 — Our ninth nest of grey plovers — The tenth nest. 



On the following morning when my companion returned 

 from his watch at the swan's nest, which had turned out a 

 complete failure, we consulted with Piottuch what was to 

 be done. The swan had evidently forsaken her nest. Time 

 was rapidly flying, and we feared the breeding season would 

 be over before we had obtained identified eggs of the smaller 

 species. It did not appear as if we could do anything at 

 Alexievka ; we had evidently yet to learn how swans were 



