98 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 

 an expensive and arduous trip, but was 

 greatly enjoyed by all hands, and was 

 fruitful in new material for his work. 

 Seventy-three bird skins were prepared, 

 many drawings made, and many new 

 plants collected. 



The weather in Labrador was for the 

 most part rainy, foggy, cold, and windy, 

 and his drawings were made in the cabin 

 of his vessel, often under great difficul- 

 ties. He makes this interesting observa- 

 tion upon the Eider duck: "In one 

 nest of the Eider ten eggs were found ; 

 this is the most we have seen as yet in 

 any one nest. The female draws the 

 down from her abdomen as far toward 

 her breast as her bill will allow her to 

 do, but the feathers are not pulled, and 

 on examination of several specimens, 

 I found these well and regularly planted, 

 and cleaned from their original down, as 

 a forest of trees is cleared of its under- 

 growth. In this state the female is still 

 well clothed, and little or no difference 



