406 AUDUBON 



from the harbor, her tackle trimmed, and as we bounded 

 over the billows, we turned our eyes towards the wilds of 

 Labrador, and heartily bade them farewell forever ! 



THE EGGERS OF LABRADOR 



The distinctive appellation of " eggers " is given to cer- 

 tain persons who follow, principally or exclusively, the 

 avocation of procuring the eggs of wild birds, with the 

 view of disposing of them at some distant port. Their 

 great object is to plunder every nest, wherever they can 

 find it, no matter where, and at whatever risk. They 

 are the pest of the feathered tribes, and their brutal pro- 

 pensity to destroy the poor creatures after they have 

 robbed them, is abundantly gratified whenever an oppor- 

 tunity presents itself. 



Much had been said to me respecting these destructive 

 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 in- 

 spire 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 one 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, the bold, the honest mar- 

 iner, whose face needs no mask, who scorns to skulk 

 under any circumstances. The vessel herself is a shabby 



