Notes from Labrador 13 



in difficult or inaccessible crevices under the rocks, where they are safe from 

 eggers, though the natives have learned to use long-handled scoop nets to 

 reach them. This nesting habit of the Black Guillemot has saved it so far, 

 and may i)r()vc to be all the protection it needs. 



5. Murre (C'ria troile Iroile). 



6. Brunnich's Murre {Uria lomvia lomvia). I saw a few Murres in the 

 Straits of Belle Isle, not over half a dozen, and one near the Ragged Islands. 

 Murres were evidently scarce in 1906, for Dr. Townsend recorded only eleven 

 seen. I think they still breed to some extent in extreme northern Labrador, 

 but they have certainly disappeared from most of the coast. They formerly 

 bred near Nain. These two and the following species have suffered more than 

 any others, as their eggs were easily gathered, could be safely transported and 

 had a high market value. They were the first species to succumb to the ravages 

 of the professional eggers. It is probably too late to save them. 



7. Razor-billed Auk {Alca torda). I saw one bird of this species in the 

 Straits of Belle Isle, which was perhaps a straggler from Bird Rock, and none 

 elsewhere. Dr. Townsend saw them in considerable numbers all along the 

 coast in 1906. I saw some eggs in Mr. Perrett's collection which were taken 

 near Nain many years ago. It is the same old pitiful story, — they are gone. 



8. Kittiwake {Rissa tridactyla tridadyla). Kittiwakes still breed abun- 

 dantly on the Button Islands, north of Cape Chidley, and migrate south along 

 the coast in August and September. I saw large flocks of old and young birds 

 near Cape Harrison and the Ragged Islands on August 21. Probably they have 

 not suffered much from egging. 



9. Glaucous Gull {Lams hy perboreus) . This species is still common all 

 along the coast from Newfoundland northward. We saw several breeding 

 colonies on the steep rocky cliffs, where their nests are nearly all inaccessible 

 and safe. 



10. Great Black-backed Gull {Larus marinus). This large Gull is 

 common all along the coast, and evenly distributed, breeding in single pairs 

 on low rocky islands outside, as well as up in the bays. There is almost always 

 one pair of these Gulls on every island where the Eiders are breeding. The 

 fishermen believe that if the Gull's nest is disturbed the eiders will desert the 

 island ; hence the Gulls are allowed to hatch their eggs in peace, thus enjoying 

 a strange immunity, while the Eiders' nests are persistently robbed. The Gulls 

 have their turn however, when the young are half grown ; for the young of this 

 and other Gulls are caught alive, taken home by the natives, and fattened in 

 captivity for the table; fat young Gulls are considered a great delicacy. 



11. Herring Gull {Larus argentatiis). Although this is the commonest 

 Gull on the coast at present, it probably needs protection more than any of 

 the others; for its eggs and young are in demand for food, and even fully grown 

 birds, in the gray plumages, are shot. It is not so wary as the two larger 

 species, and it breeds in colonies where its nests are easily accessible. 



