^°898^] JRccctit Lilv rat lire. 203 



for some distance around the whole rock, was filled with (jannels on the 

 wing, which from our position made it appear as if a heavy fall of snow 



Avas directly ahove us The whole surface is perfectly covered 



with nests, placed about two feet apart, in such regular order that you 

 may look through the lines as you would look through those of a 

 planted patch of sweet potatoes or cabbages. The fishermen who kill 

 these birds to get their flesh for codfish bait, ascend in parties of six or 

 eight, armed with clubs ; sometimes, indeed, the party comprises the 

 crews of several vessels. As they reach the top, the birds, alarmed, 

 rise with a noise like thunder, and fly off in such hurried, fearful con- 

 fusion as to throw each other down, often falling on each other till there 

 is a bank of them many feet high. The men strike them down and kill 

 them until fatigued or satisfied. Five hundred and forty have been thus 

 murdered in one hour by six men. The birds are skinned with little 

 care, and the flesh cut off in chunks ; it will keep fresh about a fort- 

 night." 



At another place they found two eggers collecting eggs of the Foolish 

 Guillemot, their take for the season being estimated at about 2,000 dozen. 

 With such inroads annually for almost a century upon the Sea Fowl, the 

 wonder is that any are left ! 



On the coast of Labrador Audubon found the Pied or Labrador Duck 

 ( Camptolaimus labradoriiis) breeding on the top of low bushes, and 

 among other noteworthy discoveries was the Finch, which he named for 

 his young companion, Thomas Lincoln. 



The Labrador trip was undertaken for the purpose of making di-awings 

 for the continuation of the ' Birds of America,' and although the journey 

 was one of hardship, owing to almost continuous tempestuous weather, 

 it was exceedingly profitable in results, despite the many unfavorable con- 

 ditions for work. 



The Missouri River expedition was undertaken solely in the interest of 

 the ' Qiiadrupeds of North America,' in which Audubon and his two 

 sons, John and Victor, were then engaged, in conjunction with Dr. 

 Bachman. As Miss Audubon tells us, "The journev has been onh" 

 briefl}' touched upon in former publications, and the entire record from 

 August 16 until the return home was lost in the back of an old secretary 

 from the time of Audubon's return in November, 1S43, until August, 

 1896, Avhen two of his granddaughters found it. Mrs. Audubon states in 

 her narrative that no record of this part of the trip was known to exist, 

 and none of the family now living had ever seen it until the date men- 

 tioned." Its discovery was most fortunate, as its publication makes 

 available a diar^' of the highest value, not only to the naturalist but to 

 the historian. As here printed it occupies about 270 pages (Vol. I, 

 pp. 447-532, Vol. II. pp. 1-195), and every page is replete with interest. 

 Audubon left New York March 11, and reached St. Louis March 28; 

 delayed here by the unfavorable weather of a late spring, final departure 

 on the long journey up the Missouri was made April 25, on the steamer 



