220 Messrs. H. Seebohm and J. A. Harvie Brown on 
found to be the easiest mode of distinguishing the sexes, as, 
so far as our observations extend, we have found it constant 
at all ages. Alston and Harvie Brown observed it at Arch¬ 
angel in 1872, and were always able to separate the sexes at 
a glance when the birds were procured. 
^-Hirtjndo rustica, L. 
On the 26th May a Common-Swallow was seen at Ust 
Zylma skimming along the river-bank close to the houses of 
the town; and on the 3rd June we shot a single bird which 
was chasing the insects round the houses at Habariki. This 
appeared to be the single Swallow which makes a summer on 
the Lower Petchora; at least we saw no more afterwards. It 
is possible, however, that we left these localities before the 
main body arrived. 
-f-CoTYLE RIPARIA (L.). 
We saw the first Sand-Martin on the day we left Ust Zylma 
(10th June), between that place and Habariki. Afterwards 
we met with the species in small numbers at Gorodok and at 
Kuya, and obtained specimens. The unusually dark plumage 
was remarked in these and other specimens as being quite in 
striking contrast to that of specimens obtained in Great 
Britain (vide also Ibis, 1873, p. 59). Nowhere on the Pet¬ 
chora did we find the Sand-Martins so abundant as they are 
in summer on the islands of the Dvina at Archangel, where 
nearly every suitable bank holds a large colony (loc. cit .). 
*f- Lagopus albus (Gm.). 
Although we bought numbers of the Capercaillie and Hazel- 
Grouse for food from the native peasant sportsmen during our 
stay at Ust Zylma, we did not have a single Willow-Grouse 
brought to us until the 9th June. We were told by M. Zna- 
minsky and M. SacharofF, and others, that “ Kouropatki ” 
are remarkable for their abundance in some seasons, and just 
as remarkable for their scarcity in others. On the tundra, 
in certain localities, as at Yooshina and Stanavoialachta, we 
found them plentiful; and they formed, along with Ducks 
and Geese, a staple article of our diet for many a day. 
We met with them as far north as we went on the tundra, 
