6 



EEY. GEOEGE PATTEESON 



effffs are sometimes collected in their season. Gulls, divers and other wild fowl arrive in 



CO 



May, and their eggs may be gathered, we miglit say, by the boat-load. Quantities of them are 

 sometimes collected for use or export. Plovers and curlew, during their autumn migrations, 

 appear in large numbers, as formerly did the wild pigeon. A species of sparrow is abund- 

 ant, remaining the year round. Stray specimens of the land-birds common on the continent 

 may sometimes be seen. Two species of snipe, however, ])reed on the island. 



The walrus was formerly found here, doubtless brought by the Arctic current, but it 

 has long since been extinct, though their tusks are still found in the sand. Seals still resort 

 hither. They are of two species, the large gray or Greenland seal and the common or har- 

 bour seal. The former arrive in December or January, bring forth their young in February 

 or March, and leave in August. The male is sometimes eight feet long, and may weigh 800 

 pounds. When on shore they live in tamllies, each male attended by several females. The}^ 

 are sometimes hunted by residents, though this is not without danger. The common or 

 harbour seal is a permanent dweUer. In the waters around, particularly to the south, it is 

 found in great numbers, l)ut it delights to bask on the sands, or, when the sea has formed 

 an opening into the lake, to play in its shallows. It sometimes reaches a length of six feet, 

 though five is more common. It brings forth its young in May, which in aliout twenty 

 days take to the water." 



the island the following list was prepared by Mr. J. AVillis in 



Of mollusca found on 

 1858 : 



Anomin epltijrpiDn. 

 srjuaDiulii. 

 Asfarfe sulcata. 



castanea. 

 A iiatina leana. 

 Bii ccin um u nda 1 um . 



trivittatum. 

 Crepiihila convej:a. 



fornicata, 

 Cardium edule. 

 Caronula balanaris. 



cUadema. 

 Cyprinus island iciis. 

 Cytheria conrexa. 

 Echinus yranulaliis. 

 Echinarachn ius 2>asina. 

 Fusus decemcosfatiis. 



ventricosiis. 

 Glycineris silUjua. 



Drift Shells. 



Ostrea borealis. 



Cardium V irt/inlaita, W. Indies, U. States. 



S'ruinbus jjiic/ilis. West Indies. 



Helix subglohosa. 

 Mytilus borealis. 

 Modiola Americana. 



plicatula. 

 Mactra gitjanfea. 

 Mya arenaria. 

 Natiea clausa. 



heros. 

 Phoals dactylns. 

 Pecten Magellanicus. 



island icus. 



concentricus. 

 Rostellaria occidental is. 

 Solen ensis. 

 Sa.cicava rtigosa. 

 Spirula Peronii. 

 sperellum. 



Serpula . 



Venus mercenaria. 



Cultnnbella merratoria. West Indies. 

 OUra porphyria, Panama. 



Of Crustacea there are three varieties of crabs and lobsters of immense size, 

 also a number of shrimps, sandlioppers, etc. 



There are 



II. Early Notices of Sable Island, 1500-1600. 



Who first of European voyagers sighted this island is unknown. Mr. S. D. McDonald 

 supposes that it was to it that Cabot refers, when on his first voyage, starting to return 



' See Dr. Gilpin on "Seals of Nova Scotia," 'Transactions of N. S. Institute of Science,' ill-, 377; McDonald's 

 ' Notes on Sable Island," ihid., vi., 22. 



