260 MPE OiT AUDUBON. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



Labrador Episodes : The Eggebs op Labrador. 



" The distinctive appellation of ' eggers ' is given to certain 

 persons who follow principally or exclusively the avocation of 

 procuring eggs of wild birds, with the view of disposing of them 

 at some distant port. Their great object is to plunder every 

 nest, whenever they can find it, no matter where, and at what- 

 ever risk. They are the pest of the feathered tribes, and their 

 brutal propensity to destroy the poor creatures after they have 

 robbed them is abundantly gratified whenever an opportunity 

 presents itself. Much had been said to me respecting these 

 destmctive pirates before I visited the coast of Labrador, but I 

 could not entirely credit all their cruelties until I had actually 

 witnessed their proceedings, which were such as to inspire no 

 small degree of horror. But you shall judge for yourself, 



" See yon shallop shyly sailing along ; she sneaks like a thief, 

 wishing, as it were, to shun the very light of heaven. Under 

 the lee of every rocky isle some OTie at the tiller steers her 

 course. 



" Were his trade an honest one he would not think of hiding 

 his back behind the terrific rocks that seem to have been placed 

 there as a resort to the myriads of birds that annually visit this 

 desolate region of the earth for the purpose of rearing their 

 young at a distance from all disturbers of their peace. How 

 unlike the open, bold, the honest mariner, whose face needs no 

 mask, who scorns to skulk under any circumstances ! The vessel 



