62 SHOOTING BIRDS. 



ludoviciamis) , sandpipers of the species known as the white- 

 rumped {Tringa bonapartei), as also the sanderHng {Calidris 

 arenaria), all of which were more or less abundant. As the af- 

 ternoon proved rainy we remained in the house and amused our- 

 selves as best we could until bed-time. 



Tuesday the 28th. To-day we were out shooting almost all day ; 

 we obtained several of the species of plover known by the many 

 different names of blackbellied, whistling field, beetlehead, ox-eye, 

 bull-head, and here by the queer title of Quebec curlew : it is in 

 fact the Sqtiatarola helvetica of the scientist. I found this bird in 

 small flocks more or less abundant all along the coast at most of the 

 different places visited from Quebec to Blanc Sablon. It was gen- 

 erally rather wild, and, wading deep into the water, fed on the small 

 sea animals that it could there capture. Its flight was low and 

 rather short. I went out before breakfast this morning to make an 

 attempt on the smafl beach birds that abounded in a cove of the 

 sea not far from the house, and was successful far beyond my most 

 sanguine expectations. The great dish prepared from these small 

 but delicately flavored little birds, is to fry them in their own fat. 

 Out of several good sized flocks I managed to procure, I think, 

 eighty-seven birds, which, carried home, were soon sending up 

 their savory odor from the frying-pan. Rain in the morning obliged 

 us to stay within doors. Here it rains about one-half the time ; 

 it is foggy and uncomfortable weather for nearly the other half, leav- 

 ing but a short season of sunshine, and there is seldom anything 

 like hot weather. If the thermometer goes up to 70° it is hoi, while 

 the usual temperature is from 45° to 60° in summer, and as low as 

 often to freeze the mercury in winter. Mercury freezes at about 

 40° Fahrenheit. 



As it came off pleasant in the afternoon we had abundant op- 

 portunity for walking about the island, enjoying the prospect as 

 well as seeing the sights. In a little corner of the yard our host 

 had started a small garden, but as its care depended upon his 

 own personal labor at the height of the fishing season, when every 

 spare moment was occupied in the business of the hour, or one 

 was indulging in rest, it had fallen rather out of use. The plants 



