Dr. O. Finsclds Ornithological Letters. 61 
and the large lakes poor in animal life. Every lake was 
inhabited by one or two pairs of Colymhus glacialis, which 
went about with small ones, or with a number of pairs of 
Harelda glacialis, (Edemia nigra, or (E . fusca. Anas acuta, 
with young, was observed on small tundra-creeks, as well 
as A. penelope and A. crecca. The most common tundra- 
birds, except Charadrius auratus, which was, with its downy 
young, to be found on every dry elevation, and whose 
cry was heard by day and by night, were Lestris parasitica 
and L. pomatorhina, both splendid-looking birds, resembling 
Falcons when on the wing. Of both species we found 
young, which on our return were already able to fly. The 
chief food of both species seems to be lemmings {Myodes 
obensis), which are plentiful. Besides these, Larus marinus 
was seen every day, but only in pairs, as they were hatching 
their young. On the borders of the lakes we found Tringa 
subarquata , T. temminckii, Machetes pugnax, all of them 
with young, as well as Gallinago media, which did not live 
in swampy grounds, but on the open dwarf-birch tundra. Of 
small birds Plectrophanes lapponica and P. nivalis (both with 
fledglings) were common, so^ also was Anthus pratensis and 
A. cervinus, the latter nearer to the wood-region, where Erin- 
gilla linaria again was to be found. Otocorys alpestris we 
observed often. On the Podarata river we again observed 
Motacilla alba ? Saxicola oenanthe, and Lusciola suecica (all 
with young ones). Of rapacious birds Falco peregrinus and 
Buteo lag opus were often observed, and their nests, with three 
or four young in down, found. They were built on the high 
banks of the river, or on the bare ground of the tundra. The 
young had to suffer very much from mosquitos, which they 
swallowed in large numbers. Otus brachyotus was common ; 
but the magnificent Snowy Owl {Nyctea nivea), a most 
splendid bird, we observed only a few times, and only one 
was shot by Dr. Brehrn. Charadrius morinellus I observed 
only once, in small flocks, on the 7th of August, being appa¬ 
rently already migrating. 
On returning to the Schtschutschja river, which we had to 
cross twice, we found animal life increased. We found again 
