the Birds of the Lower Petchora. 117 
delta around Alexievka, where, however, they are decidedly 
rare. We never had any of their eggs brought in by the 
Zyriani. The Little Bunting is fond of frequenting the mossy 
and marshy open hollows in the forests around Habariki and 
elsewhere in search of insects, in company with Wagtails 
(B. viridis and M. alba), Temminck’s Stints, Fieldfares, Blue- 
throated Warblers, and other species. They paired shortly 
after arrival, as we found them mated on the 10th June. 
EMBERIZA SCHENICLUS, L. 
On the 15th May we got the first Reed-Buntings; and on 
the 19th we found them abundant, frequenting the low alder 
and birch forests on the banks of the river opposite Ust Zylma. 
At Habariki they are less abundant, haunting the skirts of 
the pine-woods and edges of the marshy lakes and overflows 
from the river. Eggs were procured in the beginning of June 
at the latter locality ; and we afterwards found them common 
down the river, beyond the arctic circle ; beyond this, how- 
ever, they became scarce. We traced them as far north as 
Alexievka, where the Zyriani got eggs for us. Seebohm found 
a nest of this bird built inside an old Fieldfare’s nest, in an 
alder-swamp, nine feet from the surface of the water. The 
bright clean plumage of these birds is worthy of passing 
notice. They are much mealier than those found further 
west. 
PLECTROPHANES LAPPoNIcus (L.). 
The handsome Lapland Bunting is one of the commonest 
birds at Ust Zylma during migration. From the 18th May, 
when we first saw them, till the 27th, they frequented the 
fields behind the town, flying often in company with the 
equally large flights of Shore-Larks, and mingling with them, 
but just as commonly keeping in large independent com- 
panies. The great body of the females appeared to arrive 
somewhat later than the males, as the later flocks, when fly- 
ing close past, exhibited fewer black heads and breasts. One 
flock seen, and fired into, on the 27th, appeared to be com- 
posed almost entirely of females. 
We did not again meet with the Lapland Bunting after 





