the Birds of the Lower Petchora. 451 
identified, viz. at Alexievka, Bougrai, and on the river Dvoinik 
and on the small river flowing into the inland sea (anted, 
p. 300). They always defied capture, diving rapidly at the 
flash, swimming a long way up or down stream, and reappear- 
ing out of range. We failed to discover the nest. 
STERNA HIRUNDO, L. 
Soon after passing Chuvinski, on our voyage down the river, 
two Terns were seen at a distance and were brought within 
range by an imitation of their note. The species was then 
suspected, by the ash-grey colour of the lower parts, to be 
the Arctic Tern; and we soon afterwards had an opportunity 
of procuring both birds and eggs, and verifying our previous 
recognition of the species. We found the Arctic Tern abun- 
dantly at different localities—more especially, however, at 
Kuya (on the occasion of our second visit, when we procured 
the young), at an island near Alexievka, along the shore at 
Yooshina, on an island near Stanavoialachta, and at Dvoinik. 
They bred higher up the river in single pairs here and there, 
and not in colonies, as far as we had opportunity of observing ; 
but at the second of the above-mentioned localities there was 
a considerable colony. At this place one was knocked down 
with a stick by Little Feodor. 
Larus canus, L. 
The Common Gull was seen in great numbers at Ust Zylma 
on the 15th May, and for several days after, resting on the 
ice of the Petchora by the sides of the surface-pools of melted 
snow. ‘They were very wild; but by a long random shot into 
a large assemblage of these and another species (Larus affinis °), 
we were enabled to secure specimens. From what we saw of 
the Common Gull afterwards along the course of the river, 
we can almost believe that every pair which breeds on the 
Petchora below Ust Zylma was included in the above-men- 
tioned. assemblage ; or, in other words, all that breed upon the 
Petchora between Ust Zylma and the sea pass Ust Zylma on 
migration. We found them nowhere in abundance after- 
wards; and they were generally seen in single pairs, and not 
in colonies. We did not meet with them north of Kuya. 
SER. I1I.—VOL. VI. . aI 







