450 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
Eider, though much fhorter. The fame may be 
faid of feveral other fpecies of Ducks that fre- 
quent thofe parts; but the impoflibility of col- 
le@ing the down in any quantity, prevents it 
from becoming an article of trade. 
Treat. Like the Mallard, they are found in 
confiderable numbers near the fea-coaft ; but are 
more plentiful in the interior parts of the country, 
and fly in fuch large flocks that I have often kill- 
ed twelve or fourteen at one fhot, and have feen 
both Englith and Indians kill a much greater 
number. At their firft arrival they are but poor, 
though generally efteemed good eating. This 
diminutive Duck is by far the moft prolific of 
any [ know that reforts to Hudfon’s Bay; for! 
have often feen the old ones fwimming at the 
head of feventeen young, when not much larger 
than walnuts. This bird remains in thofe parts 
as long as the feafon will permit ; for in the year 
one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-five, in 
my paflage from Cumberland Houfe to York 
Fort, I, as well as my Indian companions, killed 
them in the rivers we pafled through as late as 
the twentieth of O@ober. At thofe times they 
are entirely involved in fat, but delicately ee ¢ 
and may truly be called a great luxury. 4 
Befides the birds already defcribed, there ts a 
great variety of others, both of land and ‘water 
fowl, that frequent thofe parts in Summer; but | 
thefe came not fo immediately under my = : 
on as thofe [ have already defcribed. 
OF" 
