234 DISAPPEARANCE OF DEER. 



this -species of curlew. The name commonly applied 

 to them in the United States, that of Esquimaux- 

 curlew, has doubtless been suggested by the fact 

 that they frequent that northern region in summer. 

 Their eggs are very large, and not unlike those of 

 the lapwing in colour. 



They feed upon shell-fish and aquatic insects, 

 become very fat soon after they have terminated 

 their migration, and are a great delicacy when well 

 cooked, except when they exclusively confine their 

 diet to hermit-crabs, which has the effect of giving 

 their flesh a rank taste. 



Some readers might not unjustly inquire, why, 

 in the presence of so much animal life, I remained 

 hungry ? My explanation is that I possessed 110 

 shot sufficiently small to kill plover and snipe, while 

 the larger curlews would not permit me to come 

 within range of them. 



Where all the deer had gone was beyond con- 

 ception. That they had once roamed over this 

 neighbourhood in great numbers was very apparent, 

 for on every hand their old tracks could be discerned ; 

 yet not one could I now see. What could be the 

 cause of this ? The only reason I could imagine was 

 that there must have been a pack of wolves in the 

 neighbourhood, which had very lately been making 

 this their hunting-ground. A jolly life these 

 marauders must lead, when they select for their 

 retreat a locality as free from human intrusion as 

 this. With comfortable dens, plenty of food, abund- 



