66 LIFE AND NATURE IN SOUTHERN LABRADOR. 



The Alpine vegetation is mostly confined to the exposed 

 boggy places or moors, in which are pools of water, 

 supporting water-boatmen, case-worms, aquatic beetles 

 and numerous water-fleas, and an occasional hair-worm 

 or Gordius. 



Along the lower portions by the shores are patches 

 of salt marsh with shallow pools of water, which in the 

 spring and autumn are undoubtedly frequented by ducks 

 and geese, though only a few of the former were to be 

 seen. Indeed, I was surprised, to see so few sea-fowl. 

 They were principally the parroquet, which abounded on 

 the sea a mile or two away from shore. A favorite 

 breeding-place of this most interesting of arctic birds 

 was in the soft red Cambrian sandstone of Bradore, an 

 island lying fifteen miles easterly from Caribou Island. 

 With their powerful parrot-like beaks they excavate the 

 crumbling rock, extending their galleries in to the dis- 

 tance of several feet. Three of our party made an ex- 

 pedition to this well-known breeding-resort, and in 

 thrusting their hands into the burrows received an occa- 

 sional bite from the sharp strong bills of the birds which 

 was not soon forgotten. Ducks were occasionally seen, 

 the eider-duck and also the coot, as well as the loon, 

 both the northern diver and the red-necked loon. Shore- 

 birds, particularly the ring-necked plover, and others of 

 its family, abounded, while the most familiar bird was a 

 white-headed sparrow which nested near our camp. 



It was not yet the time for the curlews. About the 

 middle of July the sheldrake and coot, which breed in 

 the inland ponds, lead out their young and appear in 

 great numbers. The old ones are wary and hard to 

 shoot, but the young will then he in fine condition. At 



