98 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
an expensive and arduous trip, but was 
greatly enjoyed by all hands, and was 
fruitful in new material for his work. 
Seventy-three bird skins were prepared, 
many drawings made, and many new 
plants collected. 
The weather in Labrador was for the 
most part rainy, foggy, cold, and windy, 
and his drawings were made in the cabin 
of his vessel, often under great difficul- 
ties. He makes this interesting observa- 
tion upon the Eider duck: ‘‘In one 
nest of the Eider ten eggs were found ; 
this is the most we have seen as yet in 
any one nest. The female draws the 
down from her abdomen as far toward 
her breast as her bill will allow her to 
do, but the feathers are not pulled, and 
on examination of several specimens, 
I found these well and regularly planted, 
and cleaned from their original down, as 
a forest of trees is cleared of its under- 
growth. In this state the female is still 
well clothed, and little or no difference 
