396 A JOURNEY TO THE 



probably extend quite across the continent of America. They 

 generally make their appearance at Churchill River about the 

 middle of May ; build their nests on the islands in lakes and 

 rivers ; lay two speckled eggs, and bring forth their young in 

 June. Their eggs are generally esteemed good eating, as well 

 as the flesh of those in the interior parts of the country, though 

 they feed on fish and carrion. They make their stay on 

 Hudson's Bay as long in the Fall as the frost will permit 

 them to procure a livelihood. 



Grey Gulls. Grey Gulls. These birds, though common, are by no 



means plentiful ; and I never knew their breeding-places, as 

 they seldom make their appearance at Churchill River till the 

 Fall of the year, and remain there only till the ice begins to 

 be formed about the shores. They seldom frequent the interior 

 parts of the country. They are not inferior in size to the 

 former, and in the Fall of the year are generally fat. The 

 flesh is white and very good eating; and, like [432] most 

 other Gulls, they are a most excellent shot when on the wing. 



Black Gulls. Black Gulls,^ usually called in Hudson's Bay, Men of 



War, from their pursuing and taking the prey from a lesser 

 species of Gull, known in that country by the name of Black- 

 head. In size they are much inferior to the two former 

 species; but, like them, always make their nests on islands, 

 or at the margins of lakes or ponds ; they lay only two eggs, 

 and are found at a considerable distance from the sea coast. 

 The length of their wings is very great in proportion to the 

 body ; the tail is uniform, and the two middle feathers are 

 four or five inches longer than the rest. Their eggs are 

 always eaten, both by the Indians and English ; but the bird 

 itself is generally rejected, except when other provisions are 

 very scarce. 



[^ Jaegers, Stercorariits, of which perhaps the commonest, and the one 

 suggested by Hearne's description, is S. pomarinus. It is probable, however, 

 that both 6". parasiticus and S. longicaudus (the former of which is the more 

 abundant) also came under his observation.] 



