14 



Bird - Lore 



12. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus senator). "Shell Ducks," as 

 they are called, are still common about the heads of the bays, in the rivers, 

 and in the lakes. They are shot regularly for food, particularly in the summer 

 when they are molting and unfitted for flight. Probably some of their nests are 

 robbed by the Eskimo dogs, which are not fed much during the summer and 

 have to forage for themselves. 



13. Black Duck (Anas rubripes). The same remarks will apply equally 

 well to this species, which is still quite common, and to other ground-nesting 



NESTS OF NORTHERN EIDER 

 Photographed by A. C. Bent 



Ducks, though the other species are not common enough to be of much economic 

 importance. 



14. Northern Eider (Somateria mollissima borealis). 



15. Eider (Somateria dresseri). I am dealing with these two species 

 together because I was unable to determine the exact limits of their respective 

 ranges, and because their cases are similar. Judging from what specimens we 

 collected, I inferred that the Northern Eider is the common breeding species 

 from Hopedale northward, and Prof. Cooke states that it breeds as far south as 

 Hamilton Inlet. The Eiders always have been, and probably still are, the most 

 important food birds on the coast of Labrador; but they are disappearing very 

 fast, and will soon be rare or entirely gone unless stringent measures are taken 



