104 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
horizon, for full well he knows that 
snow — snow is all that can be seen. I 
watched the Ring Plover for some time ; 
the parents were so intent on saving their 
young that they both lay on the rocks as 
if shot, quivering their wings and drag- 
ging their bodies as if quite disabled. 
We left them and their young to the care 
of the Creator. I would not have shot 
one of the old ones, or taken one of the 
young for any consideration, and I was 
glad my young men were as forbearing. 
The ZL. marinus is extremely abundant 
here; they are forever harassing every 
other bird, sucking their eggs, and de- 
vouring their young ; they take here the 
place of Hagles and Hawks; not an Eagle 
have we seen yet, and only two or three 
small Hawks, and one small Owl; yet 
what a harvest they would have here, 
were there trees for them to rest upon.” 
On his return from Labrador in Sep- 
tember, Audubon spent three weeks in 
New York, after which with his wife, he 
