148 



BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 





mer, and the Grosse Isle " season " was in full swing. 

 There was a school picnic one day ; on another, serv- 

 ice was held in the little white church on the hill- 

 side ; but, as I considered the deathlike quiet which, 

 as a rule, reigned in the village, I wondered what 

 life must be there in winter. Then the entire Mag- 

 dalen group is frozen in a sea of ice, which renders 

 communication with the mainland (except by cable, 



generally out of 

 repair) impossi- 

 ble. When the 

 ice breaks in the 

 spring, seals ap- 

 pear and furnish 

 a hazardous occu- 

 pation to those 

 who are venture- 

 some enough to 

 go in pursuit of 

 them a form of 

 sport which I im- 

 agine is eagerly 

 welcomed after 

 the lethargy of 

 winter. With us 

 the Magdalen s 

 were only a step- 

 ping - stone to 

 Bird Rock, but 

 while preparing for the continuation of our jour- 

 ney to that point we took some note of our sur- 

 roundings. 



The Magdalens have an interesting avifauna, but 



78. Nest and eggs of Fox Sparrow. 



