114 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



caribou, and, as we knew that this part of the 

 country had been absolutely undisturbed since 

 the previous autumn, we expected every moment 

 to meet witli some of these animals ; but 

 although in the course of the day we trudged 

 many a mile through bog and forest, and did 

 not get back to cam]3 till long after dark, we 

 only saw one young stag, I crept close up to 

 this animal and found that its horns were small 

 and still in the velvet, so I let it alone. 



Just at dusk, as we were passing a small 

 sheet of water, a pair of great northern divers 

 commenced to call vociferously. These fine 

 birds are very common in Newfoundland, 

 where they are known as " loons," and their 

 wild and somewhat melancholy cry is often 

 heard both by day and night. I have always 

 loved to listen to the cries of wild creatures, 

 especially by night, but I know of no sound in 

 nature more in harmony with the wild desola- 

 tion of its surroundings than the mournful cry 

 of the loon, as it echoes across the waters of 

 some lonely lake in the little-kno\\Ti interior of 

 Newfoundland. 



