332 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Ornithology of Siberia, 
CoRVUS FRUGiLEGus, Linn. 
As we sledged over the snow in March and April from 
Nishni Novgorod to Yen-e-saisk'^ we never by any chance saw 
a Rook amongst the Magpies, Ravens, Crows, or Jackdaws 
on the road-side. Nor did I meet with this bird, within the 
Arctic circle; but I was informed, upon very good authority, 
that a pair had once been seen two stations south of Vare- 
shin'-sky, about lat. 68^°. On the return journey I kept a 
sharp look-out for the Rook, but did not see it until we were 
threading the labyrinth of the Toor'-a, a little to the east of 
Tyu-main'. Here large flocks of Rooks were feeding on the 
banks of the river. 
CORVUS MONEDULA, Lilin. 
Jackdaws were common on the road-sides and in the villages 
through which we sledged as far as Tomsk, but became 
gradually rarer as we neared Kras-no-yarsk', and disappeared 
altogether at Yen-e-saisk'. Mr. Boiling told me that a stray 
bird of this species was occasionally seen at the latter town, 
but that he had not seen any further north. 
Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linn.). 
As we sledged down the Yen-e-say' in April we first saw 
the Nutcracker in lat. 64°; and from that time we rarely 
missed seeing these birds at the different stations where we 
stopped to change horses. When we reached the ^ Thames ^ 
we found this bird quite common and remarkably tame. At 
one time I counted as many as eight in one tree together. 
They are wonderfully sociable birds. Whilst the sailors were 
working at the ship, cutting away the ice all round her, there 
were frequently two or three Nutcrackers in difierent parts 
of the rigging, apparently watching the operation with great 
interest. They seem to be well aware of the fact that offal 
and scraps of food of all kinds are always to be found in winter 
near the habitations of man. Their tameness was quite 
absurd. Sometimes the Ost-yak children shot one with a bow , 
and arrow; and occasionally one was caught by the dogs. On 
the bushes round the house they allowed us to approach within 
four 01 five feet of them, and when disturbed moved to the 
