393 
Letters, Announcements , fyc. 
of St. Petersburg; and I.think a few extracts, translated by 
Mr. F. C. Craemers, will amuse and interest stay-at-home 
members of the B. O. U. After alluding to one or two 
former travellers, the writer comes to “ Messrs. John Brown 
& Co.,” of whom he reports as follows :— 
“ The principal object of the foreigners appears to have 
been the formation of a large collection of skins of all species 
of Birds and Mammals, and also to obtain a large series of 
eggs. They showed such great carefulness in their work that 
they minutely examined the smallest differences between spe¬ 
cimens of one and the same species, and used every endeavour 
to obtain examples of all the species and varieties .... The 
inquisitive and naive Petchora people relate that before 
shooting a bird, the English travellers carefully examined it 
through a telescope or some other optical instrument, then 
they fired. They spent several months in the Petchora 
country, and were evidently satisfied with their expedition, 
having obtained nearly 1000 specimens of birds and beasts 
and also a great number of eggs—very solid material for a 
scientific zoologist. They also discovered a new species of 
bird (belonging, if I mistake not, to the Sandpiper tribe), 
which according to them, does not occur in Europe or Ame¬ 
rica, rich as they are in animal life. 
“ Judging from the statements of the people, these foreigners 
seem to have made a very favourable impression by their 
liberal payment for specimens collected for them, and by the 
good works in which they appear to have distinguished them¬ 
selves. It is said that they had a travelling medicine-chest 
with them, with which they willingly and gratuitously cured 
the sick; and so earnest were they in this, that whenever they 
heard of any one being ill they hastened to render medical 
aid, unmindful of either time or weather.” 
It is very satisfactory to find that the good name of the 
brotherhood was so well supported by “ John Brown & Co. 
but the writer goes on to regret that the investigation of the 
country should be left to strangers. He points out that the 
trade and produce of the western parts of the Government of 
Archangel is already mainly in foreign hands; and, fearing a 
similar result in the north-east, he concludes 
