The Emu. 
77 
are mentioned. Besides it is written in an easy and uncon- 
ventional style, free from technicalities. Perhaps the most 
interesting portion is Part II. — the Yenesei journey — in which 
the author sledged (it being winter) 3,240 miles, from Nishni 
Novgorod, in Russia, to the Kureika, an affluent of the Yenesei, 
just within the Arctic Circle. Including stoppages, the journey 
occupied 46 days, during which nearly 1,000 horses, 9 score of 
dogs, and two score of reindeer were used, the total number of 
stages being 229. 
When the winter broke up Mr. Seebohm, a servant whom he 
hired on the way, and the captain proceeded from the Kureika to 
Golchika, at the mouth of the Yenesei. The break-up of winter 
is most graphically described, spring — or a leap from winter to 
summer — lasting just 14 days. 
The field notes of birds recorded throughout the journey, 
especially during the summer months, are most fascinating, and 
could have only been penned by one brimful of enthusiasm, and 
with an extraordinary capacity for hard work. An example of 
the author's perseverance is the fact that for two days in 
succession he worked amongst the swamps and mosquitos for 
20 hours out of the 24 — literally all day, because the "midnight" 
sun did not set at that season of the year. 
On the 5th June Seebohm shot a species which he had never 
seen in the flesh before — the Asiatic Golden Plover, the variety 
that migrates to Australasian quarters. (The month following 
he saw many more and discovered their nests.) The next day 
he secured another Australian bird, the Terek Sandpiper. 
Then followed more specimens of the Common Sandpiper. 
Subsequently in the " full flood " of migration (as well as of the 
river), Curlew Sandpipers in splendid breeding plumage, 
Cuckoos (C. mtermeditis), Shoveller (European) Ducks, and 
other wanderers were obtained. 
Besides being an ornithologist of great repute, Seebohm was 
a keen oologist. Under date of 23rd June he wrote : — 
" My fourth important observation this morning was, however, the most 
valuable of all — in fact, by it I obtained one of the special objects of my journey. 
As I was making my way downhill to the boat amongst tangled underwood 
and fallen tree-trunks, rotten and moss-grown, a little bird started up out of 
the grass at my feet. It did not fly away, but flitted from branch to branch 
within six feet of me. I knew at once that it must have a nest near at hand, 
and in a quarter of a minute I found it, half-hidden in the grass and moss. 
It contained five eggs. The bird was the Little Bunting. It seemed a 
shame to shoot the poor little thing, but the five eggs were, as far as I knew, 
the only authenticated eggs of this species hitherto obtained, therefore it was 
necessary for their complete identification." 
Touching another rare species which he was obliged to shoot 
for identification, Seebohm wrote — " It seems too bad to shoot 
these charming little birds, but as the ' Old Bushman ' [referring 
to the late Mr. H. W. Wheelwright, who was camped at Mordi- 
