38 BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 



both calling and looking anxious ; they had no nest and were only- 

 disturbed by our presence. A pair of Mergansers remained on the 

 lake for some time within thirty yards, affording us a good view of 

 them ; and two geese which passed over twice were probably nesting 

 in the hills near. Of nests we found four Blue-throats', two Reed- 

 Buntings', and two Red-throated Pipits'. One of the first contained 

 seven eggs, and was in a clump of grass on the edge of the lake, 

 surrounded in fact by water and only two inches above its surface. 

 I expect the water had risen since the nest was made, as it was eight 

 inches above the usual level. We saw the first tinge of green on the 

 birches to-day. 



June ^oth. — The fjord was quite lively this morning, three steamers 

 having arrived during the night ; two were mail-boats from and to 

 Vardo, and the third had brought the Head of St. Triphon's monastery 

 from Archangel. The consequence was that when we landed later in 

 the day, we heard no horses could be provided to take us to the 

 monastery until the day after to-morrow. Four or five monks were at 

 the rest-house, dressed in high velvet caps — very like a top hat minus 

 the brim — and long black coats reaching below their knees. All 

 wore their hair down to their waists, producing a striking effect when 

 first seen. 



Almost all the birds had left the village, and there were com- 

 paratively few up the valley, Mealy Redpolls being the commonest. 

 A bird of this species was sitting on a nest of six eggs, and allowed 

 me to approach within two feet of it. After watching it a little, 

 I took the nest and moved a few feet off to blow the eggs, when the 

 bird at once returned and settled on the foundation left. The first 

 egg contained a chick in down, so I carefully replaced the nest ; and 

 in a minute the bird was settled on it again as if nothing had hap- 

 pened. We also found a Brambling's nest with two eggs, a beautiful 

 little structure, covered with lichen and moss outside to imitate the 

 birch bough it was placed on, and lined chiefly with grouse feathers. 

 The nests of this species are very similar to those of the Chaffinch, but 



I 



