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passage were seen, and, for the first time since Christmas, it rained. On the 14th and 15th 

 there was a return of frost ; but on the 16th summer set in in earnest, the snow began to thaw 

 continuously, and migratory birds to arrive in greater numbers. For some days we added new 

 species of birds to our list every time we strolled out. The snow began to disappear in places, 

 and, where it was very deep, became impassable even with snow-shoes ; and the water under the 

 ice in the river rose rapidly. On the 20th the Willow- Warbler arrived. On the 21st the ice on 

 the great river Petchora broke up, and marched past our quarters in Ust Zylma for ten days, at 

 the rate of three or four miles an hour, in a stream a mile and a half wide ; and on the 22nd 

 we first made the acquaintance of the Siberian Chiffchaff. 



" In the neighbourhood of Ust Zylma we only met with this intex-esting little bird in one 

 valley, where, after the bird's first arrival, we seldom spent many hours without hearing its 

 cheerful note. A rapid stream, muddy, and swollen with the fast melting snow, ran at the 

 bottom of this valley, winding between deep mud or clay banks, which it was constantly under- 

 mining, bringing down here and there large masses of soil and turf with the pine trees growing 

 upon them, which in some places were tumbled together in wonderfully picturesque confusion. 

 Both slopes and the head of the valley were clothed with pines, principally spruce fir, with here 

 and there small open places of moorland. 



" The first specimen of the Siberian Chiffchaff which we shot was frequenting some low 

 willows on the ridge looking down into the valley ; but the favourite resort of this bird is the 

 topmost branches of the spruce fir, whence its loud chivit was generally heard. We made 

 several excursions on our snow-shoes among the pines in this valley before the frost broke up, 

 and were always surprised at the dead silence prevailing in these woods — not a bird to be seen 

 or heard. Even on the 1st May we heard nothing but a solitary Yellowhammer, which essayed 

 to sing, but broke down before its song was half finished ; nor did we see any other bird, except a 

 distant Magpie, probably on the look-out for a suitable tree in which to begin a nest. A month 

 later all was changed. The snow was only lying in small patches in one or two very sheltered 

 nooks. The woods were full of life. Down by the brook-side White Wagtails were chizziting all 

 day long. Blue-throated Warblers were the leading songsters, filling the woods with a melody 

 of rare richness and variety. The Pine-Grosbeaks far outstripped the Fieldfares and Redwings, 

 which also abounded, in the Thrush-like warble of their notes. Shore-Larks, Lapland Buntings, 

 and Bed-throated Pipits were constantly flying over, the latter often stopping by the way and 

 alighting to feed in the valley. The Willow- Warbler sang as perseveringly as it does in our 

 English woods ; and every now and then the Siberian Chiffchaff put in a few notes as a compara- 

 tively rare treat. How long this valley would be frequented by this bird it is difficult to say. 

 Possibly the diminutive little Warbler would take up its summer quarters in these pine-woods, 

 and breed there; probably, as will hereafter appear, these birds were only resting during 

 migration, waiting for the subsidence of the waters of the annual deluge which submerges 

 their favourite breeding- grounds. 



" It is probable that the males arrive first, as all the birds of this species which we shot at 

 Ust Zylma were of that sex. When first arrived they were not nearly so wild as their near 

 relations the Willow- Warblers ; but on the arrival of the females, the latter birds became much 

 tamer, whereas we fancied the Siberian Chiffchaffs were more difficult to approach within 



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