12 BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 



inlet ; but this is an error, as there are only two. These are connected 

 with the fjord and each other by narrow channels, through which the 

 water flowed so rapidly at half-tide that a boat could not be taken 

 up against the stream. 



At the head of the fjord a pair of Ravens had a nest on the face 

 of a cliff in a position which appeared inaccessible without a rope ; 

 but as we could see the young ones were nearly fledged, there was no 

 temptation to attempt to climb. After waiting half-an-hour for the 

 tide to slacken, we rowed across the first lake and entered the second ; 

 the greater part of the latter was still covered with ice, and the hills 

 around showed one unbroken front, without any opening to a lake 

 beyond. There was no sign of human habitation on the shores of 

 either fjord or lakes, although it was clear men came here for firewood. 

 An Oyster-catcher had three eggs on the shingle bar between the 

 lakes, and several Mergansers passed us. Small birds come to breed 

 later in the season, as we saw the old nest of a Redpoll in a birch near 

 the upper lake. 



On the 7th we crossed over to Great Heno, and found the thaw 

 had made distinct progress since our visit a week ago. There were 

 now a few pools of open water, formed from melted snow which could 

 not escape through the frozen earth ; these were occupied by Long- 

 tailed Duck, &c., as the lake still showed one unbroken surface of ice. 

 Large flocks of Dunlins were feeding on the shore, far more than 

 ultimately nested here. A few of the Snow-Buntings had paired, and 

 one cock carried some building material. The only fresh species 

 noted to-day was the Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus hyperboreuSy 

 a few of these birds being on the sea when we arrived. Of eggs we 

 only found Oyster-catchers (4-3), Meadow Pipit (4), Eiders (3-5), 

 and some odd Gulls' eggs. We returned at night to Devkin bay. 



June Sth. — The Finn, Ivan, from whom I had purchased the 

 salmon, came on board, and took a great interest in our coloured 

 pictures of birds likely to be found here ; but evidently knew very 

 little about them, even the geese and ducks. At last he confessed he 



