172 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 



grass. The water too, instead of pans of ice, was 

 mottled over with ducks and drakes, * cooing 

 amorously; which brought to my remembrance, 

 the pleasing melody of the stockdove. That noth- 

 ing might be wanting to complete the contrast, 

 there was not a cloud in the sky: the sun had no 

 sooner attained a sufficient height, than he darted 

 his rays upon us most vehemently; which were 

 reflected back, by the glossy surface of the water, 

 with intolerable heat; while zephyrus played 

 upon us with a tropical warmth. The scene was 

 greatly altered on our return, for the jam ice was 

 not to be seen, the barricados were fallen off from 

 the shore, most of the snow melted, all the har- 

 bours were open, and we had much pleasanter 

 prospects, since we ran within several of the 

 largest islands, and of course saw their best sides. 



Wednes., July 13, 1775. No codfish on the coast 

 yet. Hard gale with rain all day. 



Thursday, July 13, 1775. This morning Cath- 

 erine Bettres was delivered of a son. 



Strong gales with rain. 



Friday, July 14, 1775. I examined all the furs 

 which we got last winter, and found we had a 

 hundred and thirty-two martens, fifty-seven 

 foxes, eighteen beavers, seventeen otters, and 

 four minks. A skiff came up from our stage, 



* Eider-ducks make a cooing at this time of the year, not unlike the 

 first note of the stockdove. [Columba (xnas.]'^ 



* The courtship of the eider is an interesting performance, and is ex- 

 pressed by curious gestures of the head, neck and body, as well as by the 

 notes which sound like the syllables aah-ou or ah-ee-ou. See " A Labrador 

 Spring," pp. 84-89. 



