122 NEW BRUNSWICK. 



(Mergus Serrator) is another handsome bird, and quite 

 common. The little shell drake (Mergus Albellus) is also 

 common ; the hooded shell drake (Mergus Cucullatus) is a 

 rare visitor. Eider duck (Somateria Mollissima) are some- 

 times shot, but they do not frequent the south shore of 

 the St. Lawrence in anything like the numbers that are 

 found on the north shores. The scaup (Fulix Marila), 

 the Labrador duck (Gamptolsemus Labradorius), the harle- 

 quin, or pied duck (Histrionicus Torquatus), and several 

 other sea ducks are occasionally shot by the wild-fowl 

 shooter on the coast; indeed, in a good day's shooting 

 it is no unusual thing for the wild-fowl gunner to have 

 eight or ten different sorts of birds in his canoe. 



There are three very handsome divers, the loon (Colym- 

 bus Glaciatis), the red-throated diver (C. Septentrionalis), 

 and the black-throated diver (C. Ardicus) ; the plumage 

 of these birds is very pretty and glossy. The two last- 

 named are more plentiful on the north than on' the south 

 shore of the St. Lawrence, but the loon hatches on the 

 less frequented lakes, and may be seen at all times of 

 the year, both on the salt water and the fresh water. The 

 settlers have an idea that this bird cannot be shot on the 

 water, that it dives at the flash, and thus escapes the shot. 

 This may be the case when the sportsman uses an old 

 flint firelock ; but I have often known the shot too quick 

 for it. They are easily enticed within range of the banks 

 of a river by imitating their cry, and waving a coloured 

 handkerchief. But it is a great pity to shoot these beau- 

 tiful birds. They are ornaments to the lakes of Canada. 

 Those who are accustomed to the sound of their wild 

 laugh, and who have watched their pretty manners, half 



