414 General Notes. [May, 
has now prepared a full account! of his journey to the valley of the 
Petchora, which was made previous to alonger journey through Asi- 
atic Siberia as far as the Yenesei. The portion of the Russian domin- 
ions described in this volume occupies the north-eastern corner of 
Europe, and lying within the Arctic circle, is a dreary, monotonous 
land, with nothing to tempt the ordinary traveler. Its great mo- 
rasses are always frozen at a foot below the surface and much of 
the firmer land, when not under the snow, is covered by water 
from the flooded streams. : 
Mr. Seebohm’s and his companion, Mr. Harvie-Brown’s object 
in visiting the Petchora, was principally to complete their studies 
of ornithology of Northern Europe, and whilst entirely success- 
ful in this respect, they have also collected much valuable infor- 
mation for the geographer regarding this remote region. Mr. 
eebohm having previously visited Norway, with a similar pur- 
pose, on his return compared the results of his investigations with 
those made about the same time by Mr. Harvie-Brown in the val- 
ley of the Dwina near Archangel. The difference between the 
birds in these two countries was very striking, and it was con- 
cluded that by pushing their explorations ten degrees further 
eastward, they would find the breeding ground of birds whose 
nests had never been seen, though known as migrants in southern 
and western Europe. 
The species which excited the keenest interest were the gray 
plover (Squatarola helvetica), the little stint ( Tringa minuta), the 
sanderling (Calidris arenaria), the curlew sandpiper ( 77imga 5# 
arquata), the knot (7. canutus), and Bewick’s swan; but many 
other rare birds might also be reasonably expected to breed in 
the same district. 
The travelers set out from London, in March, so as to reach 
the Petchora before the melting snows and the resulting floods 
made further progress impossible. Passing through St. Peters- 
burg and Moscow, they reached the end of the railroad at Vologda 
and continued their journey by a sledge ride of six hundred miles 
at Ust-Zylma,” says Mr. Seebohm, “the snow became impassa 
the winter road was broken up, the horses at the stations in the 
uninhabited portions of the country, a distance of two hun F 
and fifty versts, were sent home, and for two months the valley © 
the Petchora was as completely cut off from all communication 
with civilized Europe, as if it had been in the moon.” One hun 
dred and fifty miles of impassable swamp barred all communica- 
tions. Ust-Zylma is a large, straggling village, most of whose 
inhabitants belong to a sect known as “ Old Believers.” Outside 
1 Siberia in Europe; a Visit to the Valley of the Petchora, in North-east Rueet 
‘with descriptions of the Natural History, Migration of Birds, etc. With Map 4" 
Mlustrations. By Henry Seebohm, F.L.S., London, 1881. _ 
