THE BIRDS OF LABRADOR. 143 



coast appeared wliat seemed to be hundreds of 

 snow-white sails sporting over the waters, but 

 which proved to be masses of drifted snow and 

 ice fining every nook and cove of the rugged 

 shores. 



The coast of Labrador, like that of the Flori- 

 das, is dotted with numerous islands, the resorts 

 of winged creatures. Some hover along the 

 huge rocks which there project like a giant bul- 

 wark over the sea, others flap their sable wings 

 over its surface ; the raven spreads her pinioDs, 

 and the golden eagle soars majestically aloft, 

 moving in wide circles through the air. 



Before his visit to Labrador, Audubon had 

 met with but a single one of the species of the 

 Esquimaux curlew. Coming from the north, 

 these birds arrive in flocks as dense as the pas- 

 senger pigeons, directing their course to the 

 sterile mountainous tracts. They feed in Labra- 

 dor on the curlew berry, a small black fruit, 

 found on a creeping plant, abundantly covering 

 the rocks. While in search of food they fly in 

 close masses, sometimes high, sometimes low, 

 but always with remarkable swiftness, and with 

 the most elegant evolutions. When on wing 

 they perpetually repeat a soft whistling note, 

 but immediately on alighting become silent. 

 They may be seen running all in the same direc- 

 tion, picking up the berries in their way, when, 



