NORTHERN OCEAN 397 



Black-heads.^ These are the smallest species of Gull Black-heads, 

 that I know. They visit the sea coast of Hudson's Bay in 

 such vast numbers, that they are frequently seen in flocks 

 of several hundreds ; and I have known bushels of their eggs 

 taken on an island of very small circumference. These eggs 

 are very delicate eating, the yolks being equal to that of a 

 young pullet, and the whites of a semi-transparent azure, but 

 the bird itself is always fishy. Their affection for their young 

 is so strong, that when any person attempts to rob their nests, 

 they fly at him, and sometimes [433] approach so near as to 

 touch him with their pinions ; and when they find their loss, 

 will frequently follow the plunderer to a considerable dis- 

 tance, and express their grief by making an unusual screaming 

 noise. 



This bird may be ranked with the elegant part of the 

 feathered creation, though it is by no means gay. The bill, 

 legs, and feet are of a rich scarlet ; crown black, and the 

 remainder of the plumage of a light ash-colour, except the 

 quill feathers, which are prettily barred, and tipped with black, 

 and the tail much forked. The flight, or extent of wing, in 

 this bird, is very great, in proportion to the body. They are 

 found as far North as has hitherto been visited, but retire to 

 the South early in the Fall, 



Pelicans.- Those birds are numerous in the interior Pelicans, 

 parts of the country, but never appear near the sea-coast. 

 They generally frequent large lakes, and always make their 

 nests on islands. They are so provident for their young, that 

 great quantities of fish lie rotting near their nests, and emit 

 such a horrid stench as to be smelt at a considerable distance. 

 The flesh of the young Pelican is frequently eaten by the 

 Indians ; and as they are always very fat, great quantities of it 



[^ Plainly referring to the Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisaa Briinn. An 

 excessively abundant species on the west coast of Hudson Bay.] 



[^ Pelecanus erythrorkynchos Gmel., has been taken on Hudson Bay only 

 as a rare straggler, but is abundant in the Cumberland House region.] 



