more probably it consisted entirely of males, which, so far
as we had an opportunity of observing, do not take any part
in incubation. The ground where the nests were placed
was full' of tussocks or hummocks, close together, the
swampy ground between being almost hidden, or traceable
only by rows of cotton-grass. The tussocks are covered
with green moss, with now and then a little reindeer-moss;
but this undergrowth is almost hidden with cloudberry, a
few species of Juncus, and sundry Garices, with occasionally
a few dwarf shrubs and flowers of the tundra. The nests
were within a hundred yards of the place whei% I shot the
five Little-Stints''on the 14th J'ulyy*on’a' cbmparativil^jdiy
extent of tundra, gently sloping towards the' north-east,
lying between the lagoon and the inland sea—exactly the
place that one would expect them to breed in, not' too
swampy, but probably the coolest place the birds could have
ehoMen. The' Pytkoff Mountains, though at a"considerably
greater elevation (513 feet above the level of the 'sea), are,
no doubt, warmer, because more inland. The sandy shore,
having little or ho cover, would also be hotter from the sun.
Facing the north-east,'this part-of the "tundra, ! catches -the
most of the prevailing winds at this season of the-year-,’ and
the least sun ; and' no doubt tHe large bay .or inland sea en
one side, and the open water on the other, help to cool the-
air.
“ Our next nest was taken on the 24th=J©#' July. Harvie-
Brown and I had 4>eeb up alii -night,/shooting by the light
of the midnight' sun, hoping to aveidrihe mosquitoes^, and
were returning'I lonkrto our wrecked '^shipi- i® Oa thick white
;®§®rning- misti I was glad to -se# -Mottuch '^odeige; with 4he
intelligence that he had foi^d^aiuother iestdof ifle Little
Stint* ' containing four eggspabout three'versts off, and "had
shot:the bird, leaving themes# andr’-egg& for us to'take/ <We
walked oh- together ashort1 distance, when I heard the show
familiar'cry of a -Little Stint behind--me3"a''sharp'McP, almost
exactly the same as the; cry Cof/the ^Bed-necked^Phalarope of
that of the' Sanderling. Turning quickly round I saw the
bird flying past as if "coming up from-its feeding-grounds.
It wheeled round us at some distance .and alighted on the
ground about eighty yards ahead. We walked slowly up
towards it, and stood for some time watching it busily employed
in preening its feathers. By*and-by we sat down. It
presently, began to run towards us, stopping now and then
to preen a feather .or two. Then it turned back a few, paces,
and lifting dts wings settled down, evidently on . its nest.
We gave it .three, minutes’.grace, torbe.quite sure, and then
quietly .walked up to the _place, and sat .down, one ,.bn each
side'of the eggs. Thé;bird as quietly slipped off theaaest;
and began to walk about all round us, now and .then pecking
quiche -ground as if feeding, seldom going more than six
fee# from us, and often approaching within eighteen, inches;
It -was a most interesting and beautiful sight. The tame.*
nê.ss of the bird was almost, ludicrous.-. ..We chatted and
talked; ■bu%thb;bird remained perfectly silent, and did not
betray slightest, symptom of fear t or concern, jintil: I
ihe ec/gst, - She then -gave a flutter towards me,
apparently to 'attract ;.my. a t t e n t io n . I turned towards her.,
and she "resumed fe ll former unconcern. I stretched ;my
hand towards her. She quietly retreated, keeping about
two fe.et from my; hand. She seemed so extremely tame
that I almost .thought‘for , the moment , .that I could cateh
her, and'getting- on tolall-fours I .crept quietly towards*- her.
. Ai^agon’ as I ’began ,t<^ move from the. nest, her manner
entirely changed/ - She kept about the same distance ahead
öjfme; but-.instead of retreating with the | utmost apparent
ngnchalan qj|, ^h e ’? did everything-in her power, to attrae# m.e
still further. Shef/gbuffled along ,the ground as' if lame.
She-; dropped her .wings as if unable to fly, and occasionally
rested on her .breast, quivering her droopin'g wings and
spread tail, as if dying/-rl threw.one, of.my gauntlets ,at
her, tbinkinghjk .secnfe,- her without damage,' hut she was
tqo quick_for me,; . Piottueh' then fired at her and missed;
He f|^lpj?ed;^&r. for some distance; but she kept just out
of range,, and finally flow awayj We waited about a quarter
of an hour at the . Best, talking and making no effort to
conceal ourselves; when she flew straight up and alighted