4 BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 



outer islands. Professor Collett states they were very rare north of 

 the Lofoten Islands in 1872, although they had been observed at 

 Tromso in both spring and autumn. Others tell me these birds are 

 increasing in numbers, and have been pushing northward since Collett 

 wrote. 



Plate I shows a Great Black-backed Gull's nest at Riso containing 

 one blue and one olive-brown egg. 



Both days were beautifully bright and warm. On the afternoon 

 of the 23 rd a rainbow appeared in an almost cloudless sky, and lasted 

 some time. At the same time a thin white circle of vapour, very 

 high in the air, parallel with the horizon and half-way between it and 

 the zenith, ran round three-quarters of the sky, its ends showing rain- 

 bow colours. The rainbow was below, and probably caused by it. 

 The whole produced a remarkable effect, but boded no good weather, 

 a prophecy abundantly fulfilled during the next three days. 



The 24th was a day of continual snowstorms, spent in hunting 

 vainly for Ravens' nests. 



When I woke on the 25 th the men were sweeping snow four 

 inches deep off the decks. We had moved the previous evening to 

 Skaaro, and . were sorry to learn Herr Gisever and his wife had not 

 arrived yet. What a contrast to our last visit in 1897! when the 

 land was covered with grass and flowers ; now only snow and water 

 met the eye. There was little trouble in finding the few Gulls' eggs 

 on the island opposite, as will be seen from Plate 2. The birds had 

 sat on them through the snowstorm of the previous night, and the 

 nests stood out as black patches on the hillsides. Several Grey Lag- 

 Geese had nests, one with six eggs, and I was surprised to find a 

 Pintail Duck Dafila acuta, already the possessor of nine eggs, regard- 

 less of the inclement season. Plate 4 represents the nest placed 

 under a mass of dwarf birch, much contorted in its youth by the 

 weight of winter snows. 



After lunch the cooper joined us in a long weary tramp round 

 the island of Skaaro, Ravens' eggs being the forlorn hope. A six- 



