84 BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 



headman sold us a good fish for two roubles ; it proved to be in 

 splendid condition and was a very acceptable change from tinned 

 food. 



June i^th. — I learnt to-day that more than twenty youths had 

 been scouring the country in the hope of securing the three roubles 

 I had offered yesterday for a nest and eggs of any goose, but without 

 result ; so it looks as if the natives had as much difficulty in finding 

 them as we have, for it scarcely seems probable that the birds have 

 not laid yet, on June 13 th. Our camp life is an unfailing source of 

 entertainment to the natives (males) who sit down for an hour at a 

 time and watch us dress, wash, cook, &c., with the deepest interest. 

 This audience was a little embarrassing at first, but we soon got used 

 to it, and at last they tired of the " show," for we made a point of 

 giving them nothing. Plate 33 represents two men of the village 

 who were said to be Lapps ; but if so, I much doubt whether he 

 on the left was pure bred. Both coats were made of reindeer skin, 

 one having the hair out and the other inside. 



We struck across the hills to the east until we reached a small 

 river running into the head of Svyatonoskaya bay ; parts of the river 

 looked as if they would afford good fishing. Birds were scarce after 

 leaving the birch-scrub, three Geese, four pairs of Golden Plover, and 

 two or three Dotterel being the principal ones seen. Several Shore- 

 Larks were still courting. Heavy showers of sleet during most of the 

 afternoon and evening made the walking bad. A nest of six eggs of 

 Redwing, partly incubated, near the camp, was our only booty. 



June i4tJi. — Rain set in at noon, and continued till 11 p.m., ac- 

 companied by heavy wind, so that the tents became soaked towards 

 night and began to leak slightly in one or two places. Not a pleasant 

 day. 



June I 5 th. — The rain had cleared off, but there was a heavy wind 

 from the N.w. which must have been a gale at sea. After breakfast 

 we went up the country near the river, while Kjeldsen crossed to the 

 village to buy a salmon and some bread. He got a good fish of 



