302 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



country, compared with those we had so lately left, appeared 

 perfectly beautiful, and we inhaled the fragrance of the new- 

 mown grass, as if nothing sweeter ever existed. Even the music 

 of crickets was delightful to my ears, for no such insect is to be 

 found either at Labrador or Newfoundland. The voice of a 

 blue jay sounded melody to me, and the sight of a humming- 

 bird quite filled my mind with delight. 



" We were conveyed to the main, only a very short distance, 

 Ingalls and Coolidge remaining in the boat ; and the rest took 

 the road, along which we moved as lightly as if boys just released 

 from school. The road was good, or seemed to be so; the 

 woods were tall timber, and the air, which circulated freely, was 

 all perfume ; and every plant we saw brought to mind some 

 portion of the United States, and we all felt quite happy. Now 

 and then as we crossed a hill, and cast our eyes back on the sea, 

 we saw our beautiful vessel sailing freely before the wind,'and 

 as she diminished towards the horizon, she at last appeared like 

 a white speck, or an eagle floating in the air, and we wished our 

 captain a most safe voyage to Quoddy. 



" We reached the shore opposite Pictou in two and a half 

 hours, and lay down on the grass to await the arrival of the 

 boat, and gazed on the scenery around us. A number of 

 American vessels lay in the harbour loading with coal. The 

 village located at the bottom of a fine bay on the north-west 

 side looked well, although small Three churches appeared 

 above the rest of the buildings, all of wood, and several vessels 

 were building on the stocks. 



" The whole coimtry seemed to be in a high state of cultivation, 

 and looked well. The population is about two thousand. Our 

 boat came, and we crossed the bay, and put up at the Eoyal 

 Oak, the best hotel in the place, where we obtained an excellent 

 supper. The very treading of a carpeted floor was comfortable. 

 In the evening we called on Professor McCuUough, who received 

 us kindly, gave us a glass of wine, and showed us his collection 

 of well-preserved birds and other things, and invited us to break- 

 fast to-morrow at eight o'clock, when we are further to inspect 

 his curiosities. The professor's mansion is a quarter of a mile 

 from the town, and looks much like a small English villa. 



" Auffust 23. We had an excellent Scotch breakfast at the 



