IN AUDUBON'S LABRADOR 



morning we were off the land about fifteen 

 miles, and about fifty from American Harbor. 

 . . . We neared the shore, but as before our 

 would-be pilot could not recognize the land, 

 and our captain had to search for a harbor 

 where we now are, himself. We passed near 

 an island covered with Foolish Guillemots, and 

 came to, for the purpose of landing; we did so 

 through a heavy surf, and found two eggers 

 just landed, and running over the rocks for 

 eggs." The Ripley apparently did not stay 

 there, but went on to Wapitagun, The distance 

 given by Audubon of that anchorage from Lit- 

 tle Mecattina, forty-three miles, and the de- 

 scription of the country, identify Wapitagun, 

 which indeed he mentions by name in his 

 account of the razor-billed auk. 



When we were anchored we explored the land 

 and found it to be a wild, desolate country of 

 bog and pool. The forest had retired inland; 

 only patches of stunted spruce and fir and larch 

 were to be seen, yet in one of them a Mary- 

 land yellow-throat was singing his "witchery" 

 song as much at home as if he were in New 

 England. It is my most arctic record for this 

 bird. The Arctic Zone begins as a narrow 

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