BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 99 



very closely resembled those of the Lapland-Bunting, so much so as 

 to require absolute identification ; but all nests of the Pipits had no 

 feathers as lining, while all those of the Buntings had. 



June 2^rd was one of the most perfect days one could hope to 

 enjoy north of the Arctic Circle ; no wind, not a cloud in the sky, imd 

 mosquitoes unobtrusive. After dinner I went up the river to inspect 

 the only complete house we saw in the district, which was placed on 

 a narrow neck of land between two curves of the river, as seen in 

 Plate 35. A nearer view is shown in Plate 39. On going up to the 

 house I found none of the doors were locked, and ventured to lift the 

 latch and walk in. The lower part on the right was a store and had 

 no communication with the other ; in neither building was there any 

 sign of fireplaces, a sure indication that the place is used only during the 

 summer months. A curious piece of construction will be seen on the 

 left, the upper part projecting four or five feet beyond the lower; I 

 could find no explanation of this except that possibly another ship- 

 wreck had provided them with a supply of long planks after the lower 

 part had been built. The upper part was made of best 3 by 1 1 in. 

 Archangel deals, a quality never originally intended for Samoyed houses. 

 The farther side of the roof of the low building also projected five feet 

 beyond the wall and formed a rough verandah. A door on the same 

 side of the higher part gave entrance into a room five feet in height, one 

 side of which was occupied by sleeping-bunks, while most of the remain- 

 ing space was filled with flour barrels, &c. A short flight of well-made 

 wooden steps (not flotsam) led to an upper room, evidently that of 

 the proprietor; this contained a wonderful collection of boxes, skins, 

 flour in bags, &c. On the floor under the window was a nearly new 

 ship's grating made of teak; and on the wall hung a handsomely 

 carved rudder -head, the history of which might have been interesting. 

 There are fish in the river as I noticed a circular funnel net of a 

 similar shape to our eel traps ; and also a number of circular weights 

 for fishing nets, made of baked clay. The nests found to-day were a 

 Dunlin's with four eggs, Oyster-catcher's (2), Ringed Plover's (4), and 



