8 A NATURALIST I^' THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 



Many birds were in sight, mostly Gannets, Terns, and 

 Gulls, wliile several little Petrels were dancing over the watsr 

 in the wake of the vessel. As we approached the shore 

 Black Guillemots became numerous, rising from the water as 

 we neared them and skimming away, the white patch of their 

 wings showing clearly in contrast with their black bodies. 

 As we sailed slowly past, within a few hundred yards of Entry 

 Island, I was struck with the barren aspect of the shore. 

 Cliffs from forty to fifty feet in height, composed of red 

 sandstone, rose almost perpendicularly from the water's 

 edge, contrasting strangely with the verdure growing upon 

 their summits. To our left, situated in a little valley, we 

 could plainly see Amherst, the largest village on the islands, 

 its white houses looking very picturesque as they stood out 

 in relief against the background of green hills. 



Amherst is quite a thriving little place ; the inhabitants 

 devote themselves to fishing during the summer months, and 

 do a very fair business. Of late years some Americans have 

 built a factory here, which they devote to canning lobsters. 

 It is in a flourishing condition, I believe, as lobsters are very 

 plenty and large. 



