BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 95 



covered with hummocks from about the size and shape of a man's 

 grave down to that of an Enghsh ant-heap, and carpeted with richly 

 coloured mosses and lichens. 



We were at once impressed with the fact we had come to a land 

 of birds ; they were far more numerous here than they had been on 

 the Murman coast. Of geese we saw eleven, eight, and several lots 

 of three and two ; bat it is quite possible the same birds crossed over 

 us more than once. What species they were I cannot tell, for I may 

 as well confess at once we never got within reasonable rifle range, to 

 say nothing about guns, during our stay. A goose is a difficult bird 

 to come to close quarters with, even during the darkness of an 

 English winter; but in the constant broad daylight of an arctic 

 summer, it is an almost impossible task. Once or twice I thought 

 from viewing them through the glasses they were Bean-Geese, but 

 this was very far from identification. Without doubt many of them 

 were breeding in the district, but what could be done Avith those 

 miles of scrub, every few yards of which afforded a dry and suitable 

 spot for a goose's nest ? We searched acres where we had seen geese 

 alight, but without result ; and almost hated the sight or name of the 

 bird at last! 



The general line of the river valley is about n.n.e., forming an 

 acute angle with the coast, so that at the highest point reached we 

 were less than three miles from the sea to-day. After skirting the 

 scrub for some two miles we came to a stretch of open tundra, and 

 saw a BufFon's Skua rise on the sky-line ; in following this bird up I 

 came on several RuiFs playing, and dropping on the ground, crawled 

 behind the hummocks towards them. Suddenly a bird rose and I 

 fired, too quickly for once, as it was the Buffon's Skua which fell 

 after flying forty yards. Its mate at once appeared on the scene, and 

 flew round us with angry cries, so we walked off eighty yards and sat 

 down to watch. The bird settled on the eggs a few minutes after we 

 became quiet. The one shot was the female, and she had not risen 

 from the eggs as they were some distance to the right of the point 



