41 8 AUDUBON 



call. I am glad that it is in my power to make a figure 

 of these birds in summer, winter, and young plumage. 

 We also found the breeding-place of the Fuligula histri- 

 onica in the corner of a small pond in some low bushes. 

 By another pond we found the nest of the Velvet Duck, 

 called here the White-winged Coot ; it was placed on the 

 moss among the grass, close to the water; it contained 

 feathers, but no down as others. The female had six 

 young, five of which we procured. They were about a 

 week old, and I could readily recognize the male birds; 

 they all had the white spot under the eye. Four were 

 killed with one shot ; one went on shore and squatted in 

 the grass, where Lincoln caught it; but I begged for its 

 life, and we left it to the care of its mother, and of its 

 Maker. We also found the breeding-place of Fuligula 

 glacialis by a very large pond ; these breed in companies 

 and are shyer than in the States. The Pied Duck 1 breeds 

 here on the top of the low bushes, but the season is so far 

 advanced we have not found its nest. Mr. Jones tells me 

 the King Duck passes here northwards in the early part 

 of March, returning in October, flying high, and in lines 

 like the Canada Goose. The Snow Goose is never seen 

 here; none, indeed, but oceanic species are seen here. 

 (I look on Anas fusca 2 as an oceanic species.) Mr. Jones 

 has never been more than a mile in the interior, and 

 knows nothing of it. There are two species of Wood- 

 pecker here, and only two, the Three-toed and the Downy. 

 When I began writing it was calm, now it blows a hurri- 

 cane, rains hard, and the sea is as high as ever. 



July 29. Another horrid, stormy day. The very fish- 

 ermen complain. Five or six vessels left for further east, 

 but I wish and long to go west. The young men, except 



1 Or Labrador Duck, Camptolamus labradorius. This is a notable record, 

 considering that the species became extinct about 1875. — E. C. 



2 This is the White-winged Coot or Scoter just mentioned above, CEdemia 

 diglandi. — E. C. 



