BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND loi 



narrow the nest occupied all the top of it. After watching an hour, 

 Hetley shot the bird, a male Wood-Sandpiper. I tried to photograph 

 the nest, but the hour was 1 1 p.m., and a slight drizzle falling, so the 

 result was not a success. 



On our return we kept on the higher ground where a pair of 

 Buffon's Skuas detained us some time, but I came to the conclusion 

 that they were birds we had already robbed, and which had moved to 

 fresh ground in consequence. Shortly after leaving them two Rough- 

 legged Buzzards rose over us, giving their peculiar cat-like call ; a sure 

 sign there was a nest near at hand. I spent some time in carefully 

 searching the edge of the bluffs, but without result, as these birds — un- 

 like the White Wagtail — had learnt wisdom by experience ; Kjeldsen 

 had already found two old nests of theirs on the opposite side of the 

 river, buried under masses of the fallen bluff. Hope of success had 

 almost gone, when a heap of sticks, quite fifty yards from the ravine 

 caught my eye ; and there was the nest (depicted in Plate 41) con- 

 taining two eggs which would have been hatched within forty-eight 

 hours. This was the first nest of the species I had found on practically 

 level ground. It is interesting to notice how some birds of prey not 

 only adapt their ideas of a suitable building-site to the country, but 

 also the number of their young to the probable supply of food. We 

 noticed very few signs of small mammals in this district, hence the 

 Buzzards would have to rely chiefly on small birds. The largest 

 clutch of this species I find recorded in Ootheca Wollcya^ia is five, but 

 Mr. Chaworth Musters tells me that he has taken six in Norway in 

 a year when lemmings were plentiful.^ 



June 2Sth. — A yellow Wagtail we had seen yesterday near the 

 Samoyed's house promptly evaded us by crossing the river, so to-day 

 we divided into two parties, one taking the north side and the other 

 the south. We again failed to secure the bird, but from what I saw 

 of it through my glasses I believed it to be a male Motacilla viridis. 

 While watching the Wagtail a Willow- Wren flew up from a little 



^ See also p. 123. 



