EGGERS OF LABRADOR. 149 



and I hope all of them will live and die in this 

 country." 



In such unambitious happiness, ignorant alike 

 of the aspirations and evils of so-called civiliza- 

 tion, dwell the settlers of Labrador I 



Frequenting the coast of this interesting coun- 

 try are a class of men, who, the scourge of the 

 feathered species, were regarded by Audubon as 

 the scandal of their own. These buccaneers, 

 whose vocation it is to despoil the nest of every 

 wild bird, in order to dispose of its produce, are 

 known as Eggers. 



Their cruel occupation is rendered still more 

 vicious, from the propensity they exhibit to de- 

 stroy the poor creatures whom they have robbed, 

 adding the crime of inhumanity to that of injus- 

 tice. In their unwashed shallops, plastered and 

 patched often with the remnants of some luckless 

 vessel plundered by these pirates, they skulk be- 

 hind the frowning rocks, a refage for myriads 

 of winged creatures, who there seek unmolested 

 repose. Like evil phantoms of the waters, the 

 boats are stealthily pushed along, manned by 

 their reckless crews, intent on evil. 



On their approach towards some island for 

 their prey, clouds of birds rising, thicken the 

 air, wheeling and screaming around, as though 

 in defiance of their dreaded enemies. Some in 

 the vain hope of saving their cherished young 

 13* 



