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AUDUBON 



company than a dog. They have phiced their very small 

 cabin in a delightful situation, under the protection of an 

 island, on the southwestern side of the main shore, where I 

 was surprised to find the atmosphere quite warm, and the 

 vegetation actually rank ; for I saw plants with leaves fully 

 a foot in breadth, and grasses three feet high. The birds 

 had observed the natural advantages of this little paradise, 

 for here we found the musical Winter Wren in full song, 

 the first time in Labrador, the White-crowned Sparrow, 

 or Bunting, singing melodiously from every bush, the Fox- 

 tail Sparrow, the Black-cap Warbler, the Shore Lark nest- 

 ing, but too cunning for us ; the White-throated Sparrow 

 and a Peregrine Falcon, besides about half a dozen of 

 Lincoln's Finch. This afternoon the wind has been blow- 

 ing a tremendous gale; our anchors have dragged with 

 sixty fathoms of chain out. Yet one of the whaler's boats 

 came to us with six men, who wished to see my drawings, 

 and I gratified them willingly ; they, in return, have prom- 

 ised to let me see a v/hale before cut up, if they should 

 catch one ere we leave this place for Bras d'Or. Crows 

 are not abundant here ; the Ravens equal them in number, 

 and Peregrine Falcons are more numerous. The horse- 

 flies are so bad that they drove our young men on board. 

 Jidy 23. We visited to-day the Seal establishment of 

 a Scotchman, Samuel Robertson, situated on what he calls 

 Sparr Point, about six miles east of our anchorage. He 

 received us politely, addressed me by name, and told me 

 th )♦• he had received intimation of my being on a vessel 

 bound to this country, through the English and Canadian 

 newspapers. This man has resided here twenty years, 

 married a Labrador lady, daughter of a Monsieur Cheva- 

 lier of Bras d'Or, a good-looking woman, and has six 

 children. His house is comfortable, and in a little garden! 

 he raises a few potatoes, turnips, and other vegetables. 

 He appears to be lord of these parts and quite contented 

 with his lot. He told me his profits la.st year amounted 



