(<j 16GB) 
SURF DUCK. 
FULIGULA PERSPICILLATA, Bonar. 
PLATE CCCXVII. Mate anp Femate. 
€ 
ALTHOUGH several years have elapsed since I visited the sterile 
country of Labrador, I yet enjoy the remembrance of my rambles there ; 
nay, Reader, many times have I wished that you and I were in it once 
more, especially in the winter season. I calculate indeed how easily 
this wish might be accomplished, were I ten years younger. Under 
the haspitable roof of Mr Jonxs, while the tempest might be hurling 
southward the drifting snows, I could live in peaceful content, cheered 
by the matchless hand-organ of my kind hostess. Then, how pleasant 
it would be in calm weather to traverse the snowy wastes, to trap the 
cunning fox and the Jer Falcon,-allured by their favourite winter 
food, the Rock Grous; with what delight should I gaze on the dim 
red sun creeping along the southern horizon, or watch the flittering 
beams of the northern aurora. Now, over the glittering snow, Jonss’s 
Esquimaux curs might swiftly. convey us to his friends, here crossing 
the ice-bound gulf, there traversing fissures and crags impassable in 
summer. Then what long tales for the long nights, and sports for the 
short days. The broad-antlered Caribou might have scampered before 
me, but its bounds would have been suddenly checked by the fleeter 
ball of my well-directed rifle. The wolf might have prowled around 
us, until he had been captured in the deeply dug and well-baited pit. 
Then Nature’s pure mantle would be seen slowly to disappear, the low 
grounds would be inundated with the snow-waters, the warm breezes 
would dry the mountain ridges, and with the first appearance of verdure 
joy would cause every heart to bound. Thousands of seals would be seen 
to snuff the milder air, myriads of tiny fishes would approach the shores, 
and millions of feathered wanderers would pass over on whistling 
pinions. But alas! I shall never spend a winter in Labrador. 
While proceeding towards that country in 1833, on board the Rip- 
ley, I found the waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence alive with ducks 
of different species. ‘he nearer we approached the coast, the more 
VOL. LV, L 
