WHITE-HEAD ISLAND. 237 



rose again at a great distance ; .the broad-breasted eider duck 

 covered her eggs among the grassy tufts ; on a naked rock the 

 seal lazily basked, its sleek sides glistening in the sunshine ; 

 while shoals of porpoises were swiftly gliding through the waters 

 around us, showing by their gambols that, although doomed to 

 the deep, their life was not devoid of pleasure. Far away stood 

 the bold shores of Nova Scotia, gradually fading in the distance, 

 of which the grey tints beautifully relieved the wing-like sails 

 of many a fishing-bark. Cape after cape, forming eddies and 

 counter-currents far too terrific to be described by a landsman, 

 we passed in succession, until we reached a deep cove near the 

 shores of White-head Island, which is divided from Grand 

 Manan by a narrow strait, where we anchored secure from every 

 blast that could blow. In a short time we found ourselves 

 under the roof of Captain FranMand, the sole owner of the isle, 

 of which the surface contains about fifteen hundred acres. He 

 received us all with politeness, and gave us permission to seek 

 out its treasures, which we immediately set about doing, for I 

 was anxious to study the habits of certain gulls that breed there 

 in great numbers. As Captain Coolidge, our worthy com- 

 mander, had assured me, we found them on their nests on 

 almost every tree of a wood that covered several acres. What 

 a treat, reader, was it to find birds of this kind lodged on fir- 

 trees, and sitting comfortably on their eggs ! 



" Their loud cackling notes led us to their place of resort, 

 and ere long we had satisfactorily observed their habits, and 

 collected as many of themselves and their eggs as we considered 

 sufScient. In our walks we noticed a rat, the only quadruped 

 found in the island, and observed abundance of gooseberries, 

 currants, rasps, strawberries, and huckleberries. Seating our- 

 selves on the summit of the rocks, in view of the vast Atlantic, 

 we spread out our stores and refreshed ourselves with our 

 simple fare. Now we followed the objects of our pursuit 

 through the tangled woods, now carefully picked our steps 

 over the spongy grounds. The air was filled with the melodious 

 concerts of birds, and all Nature seemed to smile in quiet 

 enjoyment. We wandered about until the setting sun warned 

 us to depart, when, returning to the house of the proprietor, we 

 sat down to an excellent repast, and amused ourselves with 



