mmmm 



400 



AUDUBON 



m. 



'■WBW-l 



also outlined in the mountainous hills near our vessel, as 

 a background to my Willow Grouse. John and Coolidge 

 with their companions brought in several specimens, but 

 nothing new. Coolidge brought two young of the Red' 

 necked Diver, which he caught at the bottom of a small 

 pond by putting his gun rod on them, — the little things 

 diving most admirably, and going about the bottom with 

 as much apparent ease as fishes would. The captain and 

 I went to an island where the Phalacrocorax dilophus^ 

 were abundant; thousands of young of all sizes, from just 

 hatched to nearly full-grown, all opening their bills and 

 squawking most vociferously; the noise was shocking and 

 the stench intolerable. No doubt exists with us now that 

 the Shore Lark breeds here ; we meet with them very fre- 

 quently. A beautiful species of violet was found, and I 

 have transplanted several for Lucy, but it is doubtful if 

 they will survive the voyage. 



July 18. We all, with the exception of the cook, left 

 the " Ripley" in three boats immediately after our early 

 breakfast, and went to the main land, distant some five 

 miles. The fog was thick enough, but the wind promised 

 fair weather, and we have had it. As soon as we landed 

 the captain and I went off over a large extent of marsh 

 ground, the first we have yet met with in this country; 

 the earth was wet, our feet sank far in the soil, and 

 walking was extremely irksome. In crossing what is here 

 called a wood, we found a nest of Pants hndsonicus'' con- 

 taining four young, able to fly; we procured the parents 

 also, and I shall have the pleasure of drawing them to- 

 morrow; this bird has never been figured that I know. 

 Their manners resemble those of the Black-headed Tit- 

 mouse, or Chickadee, and their notes are fully as strong, 

 and clamorous, and constant as those of either of our own 

 species. Few birds do I know that possess more active 

 powers. The nest was dug by the bird out of a dead and 

 1 Double-crested Cormorant. * Hudson's Bay Titmouse. 



