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being considered suitable for the table, they escape the torture to 

 which birds of a more delicately-flavored flesh are subjected.! Still, 

 they are not entirely exempt from persecution, as there are those 

 who fancy a Gull's egg an exceedingly delicate morsel. 



The Florida Keys, which are the breeding places for great num- 

 bers of Gulls and Terns of various species, are resorted to annu- 

 ally by '■'■ eggers,^^ — persons who make a business of collecting the 

 eggs of these marine birds. On visiting this great depot, they rise 

 in such vast bodies as to darken the air, at the same time almost 

 deafening the intruder with their shrill cries. The collectors, in 

 order that they may take only those that have been recently laid, 

 drive off" the birds, and remove or break all the eggs within a 

 certain space. In a few days the collectors return, and all the 

 eggs found within the prescribed limits are known to be fresh, and 

 taken to the West Indies, where they are by many esteemed highly. 



On the coast of Labrador, which is the breeding place for numer- 

 ous species of water bird, this business of collecting birds' eggs is 

 carried to a greater extent. I am informed that in the eastern towns 

 and cities, small vessels are annually fitted out expressly for that 

 purpose. Large numbers are destroyed by being broken and 

 trampled on, besides those taken away ; and in this manner there 

 are more birds destroyed in embryo — if I may so term it — in one 

 season, than all the sportsmen in Christendom would destroy with the 

 gun. The fishermen, I am told, make free use of the eggs. Those 

 of some species, they say, are exceedingly well tasted, affording 

 palatable and nourishing fare. 



