58 AMBROSE — -ON BIRDS FREQUENTIISG ST. MARGARETS BAY. 



ing their guns. Three fingers of powder and two of shot is the 

 smallest load for their old militia muskets — the approved gun 

 here, — and in the hurry of loading in a boat much more powder is 

 frequently poured in. Black eyes and bloody noses are the not 

 uncommon penalties of a morning's sport, and I know one fisherman 

 whose nose has been knocked permanently out of shape by the 

 frequent kicking of his gun. In several instances the gun has gone 

 clear overboard out of the fowler's hands, by the recoil. But 

 nothing can daunt these men, or induce them to load with a lighter 

 hand. There is one living at Nor'-west Cove, who has had his 

 right eye destroyed by his gun, but who is now as great a duck- 

 shooter as ever, firing, however, from the left shoulder. 



Many of these people have a strong belief in the potency of 

 charms and incantations, in connection with shooting, and conse- 

 quently would lose all confidence in themselves, and all ability to 

 take aim, with a "channed gnn." A man formerly lived at La- 

 Have, who enjoyed the reputation of being able, with a glance, to 

 pervert for a time the shooting qualities of any gun. Not unfre- 

 quently did this fear of his evil eye induce other sportsmen to 

 withdraw, leaving him all the shooting of the occasion. The same 

 superstition exists among the African tribes, so far proving that the 

 negro is "a man and a brother." 



A singular proof of the adaptation of instinct to necessity, is 

 found in the manner in which sea-birds of the duck species attempt 

 to escape when on the water and unable to fly. They will swim 

 for long distances just so much below the surface of the water that 

 the end of the bill as far as the nostrils is the only part of the body 

 exposed to the aii'. Many m this way escape the most careful 

 pursuit. It seems to me more than probable that this art has been 

 acquired since their acquaintance Arith man, the only foe whose 

 "far-darting" destructive power, and inability to see the operation 

 from above, makes such a mode of escape at once necessary and 

 practicable. 



Crippled birds resort to retired coves and out-of-the-way nooks, 

 where they remain until fully recovered. Some are wing-broken 

 and unable to fly, others are maimed in the leg or foot and cannot 

 dive, but He who careth for the fowls of the aii- is theii- provider, 

 and very many of them get the better of their wounds. There is a 



