BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 131 



Musters saw an Osprey at Tschongai, and there were many small 

 birds about the place. After walking three versts we put up a Goose 

 from a marsh and felt sure it had a nest near ; but half-an-hour is of 

 little use for finding a goose's nest. That was a weary march, in 

 winter clothing, with good loads, and a hot sun shining on us, over 

 tundra bogs and snowdrifts ; one we shall not forget in a hurry. 

 There were twelve inches of snow in places over the latter part of the 

 way, and it was quite clear the road would have been impassable a few 

 days earlier. I strongly advise any traveller on this road to arrange 

 his journey so that the walk from Tschongai to Kitsa may be done 

 during the night. Causeways have been made over the worst pieces 

 of bog by sawing trees into planks and laying them four wide on cross 

 pieces ; and we gave them many a blessing, except in those places 

 where the planks were rotten, or rocked on their round lower side. 

 We reached Kitsa at 2.45 p.m., and the carriers an hour after, as they 

 had stopped for a short sleep on the way. Plate 5 i shows the party 

 during one of our halts. 



The station of Kitsa consists of two huts standing close to the 

 junction of the Kola and Kitsa rivers. Plate 5 2 is from a photograph 

 taken from a bank on the north side ; it shows the Kitsa coming from 

 the left (east) side and the Kola from the south. The hut to the 

 right is the " rest-house " of the station, and that to the left balongs 

 to the man who has contracted for this station several years. He 

 had given us permission to use it, and to break the padlock if locked 

 up. The back of a small axe removed the latter and allowed us to 

 take possession. After ten minutes' sweeping, and a good fire to drive 

 out the smells, the place was quite comfortable. A Teal that had 

 recently broken his neck on the telegraph wire near was soon in the 

 frying-pan, and formed a welcome addition to the meal ; a good bird at 

 any time, but delicious when well fried in butter, with ample supplies 

 of " hunger-sauce." Our canvas hammocks were rigged up to-night 

 for the first time, and proved most comfortable. No traveller in these 

 parts should be without them ; they are light to carry, and can be 



