CHAPTER XXV. 



Visit to the Bay of Fundy. 



|HILE visiting Eastport, Audubon made a trip to 

 the Bay of Fundy and some of its neighboring 

 islands, in search of the birds which resort there \ 

 and the following episode is his own graphic account of 

 that journey : 



" THE BAY OF FUNDY. 



" It was in the month of May that I sailed in the 

 United States revenue cutter the Swiftsure, engaged in a 

 cruise in the Bay of Fundy. Our sails were quickly un- 

 furled, and spread out to the breeze. 



" The vessel seemed to fly over the liquid element, as 

 the sun rose in full splendor, while the clouds that floated 

 here and there formed, with their glowing hues, a rich 

 contrast with the pure azure of the heavens above us. We 

 approached apace the island of Grand Menan, of which 

 the stupendous cliffs gradually emerged from the deep, 

 with the majestic boldness of her noblest native chief. 

 Soon our bark passed beneath its craggy head, covered 

 with trees which, on account of the height, seemed scarce- 

 ly larger than shrubs. The prudent raven spread her 

 pinions, launched from the cliff, and flew away before us ; 

 the golden eagle, soaring aloft, moved majestically along 

 in wide circles ; the guillemots sat on their eggs upon the 

 shelvy precipices, or, plunging into the water, dived and 

 rose again at a great distance ; the broad-breasted eider- 

 duck covered her eggs among the grassy tufts; on a 



