134 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



rosy cheeks, but appears muffled in a grey mantle of cold 

 mist, which shows you that there is no prospect of a fine day. 

 The object of the expedition, which was to procure some Owls 

 that had been observed there by day, was entirely frustrated. 

 At early dawn, the party rose stiffened and dispirited, and 

 glad were they to betake themselves to their boats, and return 

 to their floating home. 



Before we left Labrador, several of my young friends began 

 to feel the want of suitable clothing. The sailor's ever-tailor- 

 ing system was, believe me, fairly put to the test. Patches 

 of various colors ornamented knees and elbows ; our boots 

 were worn out ; our greasy garments and battered hats were 

 in harmony with our tanned and weather-beaten faces ; and, 

 had you met with us, you might have taken us for a squad 

 of wretched vagrants; but we were joyous in the expectation 

 of a speedy return, and exulted at the thoughts of our success. 



As the chill blast that precedes the winter's tempest thick- 

 ened the fogs on the hills and ruffled the dark waters, each 

 successive day saw us more anxious to leave the dreary wild- 

 erness of grim rocks and desolate moss-clad valleys. Un- 

 favorable winds prevented us for awhile from spreading our 

 white sails ; but at last one fair morning smiled on the wintry 

 world, the Ripley was towed from the harbor, her tackle 

 trimmed, and as we bounded over the billows, we turned our 

 eyes towards the wilds of Labrabor, and heartily bade them 

 farewell forever ! 



He had previously visited the Florida Coast, alone, in 

 1831 and 1832, and during this expedition penetrated the 

 interior by the St. John's River. All this region, but par- 

 ticularly the " Keys," is like its Boreal contrast, Labrador, 

 of peculiar interest to the Ornithologist, as the resort of my- 

 riads of water-fowl and tropical birds of extraordinary splen- 

 dor. He says : 



While in this part of the peninsula, I followed my usual 

 avocations, although with little success, it being then winter. 



