66 SEARCHING FOR DRIFT-WOOD. 



more like the squeak of a mouse than anything else I can name. 

 From its rarity I give the dimensions as I took them. Length from 

 end of bill to tail i6 inches ; end of bill to toes 18.50 ; extent 28 ; 

 wing 8.75 ; tail 3.25 ; bill 3.25 ; unfeathered tibia 1.13 ; tarsus 

 2.50 ; hind toe and claw .50 ; middle toe and claw 1.65. It was a 

 ^ and had the gizzard full of gravel and nearly digested matter. 

 The people tell me that it is occasionally seen in fall, but that it is 

 rare. Audubon speaks of it as "rare along the Atlantic district 

 in spring and autumn. Breeds in the barren grounds of the Arctic 

 seas in great numbers." It seems to be confined to the more mid- 

 dle interior parts of the Arctic regions, and the majority of writers 

 whose works I have seen speak of it, as I have generally found it, 

 as rare along the Eastern Atlantic and Gulf coast generally. 



Friday, Oct. i . To-day has been occupied m procuring firewood. 

 A number of the men who live upon the island started off Av-ith 

 their boats for a tour along the shore after drift-wood. The wood 

 collects in the coves ever}'where about the islands as well as the 

 bays of the mainland, and is eagerly sought after by the people 

 who, in many cases, are obliged to go a considerable distance other- 

 wise for their supply ; it is brought in boat-loads to the shore close 

 by the house, the wet material spread out to dry in the sun, while 

 the remainder is sawed or chopped up for immediate use. In this 

 way any old wreck or pieces of vessels that have floated ashore are 

 soon spied out and secured ; limbs and branches of trees, as well 

 as boards that have fallen off from vessels and floated ashore are all 

 serviceable, for if clogged with wet they will generally soon dry 

 when exposed to the sun away from the water. Old boats are also 

 found occasionally ; all this apparent old rubbish is of value, and 

 shows that very little is lost in the economy practised on these 

 shores. 



Saturday the 2nd. To-day we visited Bonne Esperance and 

 passed the day with Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley in a very pleasant 

 manner. As the locality presents some very interesting features of 

 surroundings, as well as some attractions in itself, it may be well to 

 give a general description of the place. 



