372 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



early in the morning, towards spring more particu 

 larly, vast flocks are seen in the bays and sheltered 

 inlets, and in calm and foggy weather we hear the 

 loud and blended nasal call reiterated for hours from 

 the motley multitude. There is something in the sound 

 like the honk of the goose, and as far as words can ex 

 press a subject so uncouth, it resembles the guttural 

 syllables 'ogh ough egh, and then 'ogli ogli ogTi ougli 

 eghj given in a ludicrous drawling tone ; but still with 

 all the accompaniments of scene and season, this 

 humble harbinger of spring, obeying the feelings of 

 nature, and pouring forth his final ditty before his 

 departure to the distant north, conspire with the 

 novelty of the call, to please rather than disgust 

 those happy few who may be willing " to find good in 

 every thing." This peculiar cry, is well known to the 

 aboriginal sons of the forest, and among the Crees 

 the species is called " Hah-lia-way -," so much like the 

 syllables I have given above, that many might 

 imagine my additions no more than a version of the 

 same. 



The Velvet Duck ( Fuligula fusca) is another beau 

 tiful species of this genus. 



The Velvet Duck is common to the northern regions 

 of both continents, where it retires late in the spring 

 to pass the period of reproduction. Like the preced 

 ing, they live principally upon the sea and its pro 

 ductions, diving often in broken water for shell-fish 

 and other marine bodies. They breed along the 

 Arctic coast and around Hudson Bay and Labrador, 

 retiring inland for the purpose ; nesting contiguous to 

 small fresh-water pools in the shelter of juniper or 

 pine bushes, laying from eight to ten white eggs, 



