284 Mr. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton on 
shaking the moisture from its pinions, bear its booty 
aloft. 
Very conspicuous were the great Pallas^s Sea-Eagles, 
Thalassaetus pelagicus, of which a pair or two at least 
frequent the larger trees about Avacha Bay. Their powerful 
lemon-yellow bills and white shoulders make them easily 
recognizable at a distance. Once I saw an Osprey strike at 
an Eagle in the air, and the clumsily-flying king of birds 
seemed quite unable to retaliate while on the wing. 
We saw no Owls among the woods, but Mr. Jacobleff 
procured me a specimen of TengmaluFs Owl, Surnia ulula , 
which seems to be identical with examples of the same 
species found in Europe. 
In 1897 we stayed more in the immediate neighbourhood of 
Fetropavlovsk. Among the hills behind the town birds were 
not numerous, and the few Warblers which were shot were 
unfortunately not preserved. The shooting-parties were not 
at all successful, those who went in pursuit of Duck being 
especially unfortunate. Others who took their way inland 
a bit secured a few of the fine Kamchatkan Capercaillie; 
and Willow-Grouse were also obtained on several occasions 
within walking-distance of the town. 
But good sport was not to be obtained at Petropavlovsk in 
the summer months. For reindeer and bighorn a journey 
of two or three days into the mountains was said to be 
necessary, while the bears were inaccessible in the thick 
undergrowth. As a general rule, in Kamchatka a sportsman 
must not expect to get much return for his trouble, except 
in spring or autumn. In summer the mosquitoes are 
rampant, and the thick undergrowth serves the double 
purpose of effectually concealing the game and of obstructing 
their pursuer, while in winter the snow lies so thickly that 
the bears at all events are safely asleep beneath its sheltering 
mantle. 
Of other birds Crows were common, and three Magpies 
were seen at the town on August 31st. Among the scrub 
and woods, Nutcrackers were seen on more than one 
occasion, flying with the peculiar soft, Crow-like flight of the 
