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THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



BIRD NESTING IN LABRADOR. 

 The Canadian coast and islands which mar- 

 gin the south-eastern portion of the Peninsula 

 of Labrador, embracing the north shore of the 

 Lower St. Lawrence, from Seven Islands to 

 Blanc Sablon, near the North-West River, are 

 interesting localities for the naturalist to visit. 

 The aborigines, and their modes of life ; the 

 magnificent lakes and picturesque rivers ; the 

 fisheries of .the white man, and the singular 

 methods by which he obtains a subsistance 

 on the rock-bound coast, are subjects claiming 

 our attention at this age of human knowledge. 

 Labrador was visited by Audubon before he 

 issued his beautiful work on the Birds of 

 America. He was aware that without a 

 thorough ornithological knowledge of these 

 northern bird breeding-grounds, his book 

 would contain but few facts in addition to those 

 given by Wilson and prior writers on our 

 birds and quadrupeds. The naturalist who 

 now retraces Audubon's footsteps along the 

 Labradorian coast may fully realize the 

 accuracy and truthfulness of this clever 

 •writer. In 1867, such was the object of the 

 Editor of this journal, who went there to collect 

 a series of bird eggs, and determine the species 

 breeding on the coast. On the rocks surround- 

 ing the beautiful Bay of Seven Islands, the 

 nests of several marine birds may be found. 

 The greater portion being the Herring Gull, 

 (Larus argeniatus) end the White-winged 

 Guillimot ( TJria grylle). Proceeding towards 

 Mingan, Leach's Petrel, ( Thalassidroma 

 Leachii) may be seen skimming over the 

 stormy sea, but where the birds nest is only con- 

 jecture. There is a sand cliff between the Shel- 

 drake River and the latter place, which may be 

 occupied by these birds. The nesting habits 

 ,of the Petrels being similar to the Sand Martin. 

 Approaching the St. John River, a rock stands 

 some distance seaward ; it is called Isle Parro- 

 quette ; it is covered with earth and turf to 

 allow numbers of the Arctic Puffin (Mormon 

 gracialis ) to burrow and form their nests. 

 This rock is an extensive Puffin breeding- 



ground. The Mingan group of Islands in the 

 vicinity are heavily wooded, and nests of the 

 common Eider Duck (Somateria mollissimd), 

 may be found occasionally. The nests of this 

 species have been so frequently robbed by the 

 people from the coast, that these islands are 

 not now selected by the Eider Ducks for pur- 

 poses of nidification. It is only on the islands 

 below Point Esquimaux, which are not so easily 

 accessible to man that the nests of these birds 

 are found. The oologist who can visit the group 

 of islands between the latfer place and Watshee- 

 sho, about the middle of May, will find plenty of 

 material, but few species. There are abundance 

 of Eider Duck's nests. Indeed, one small 

 island visited by us, was almost covered with 

 the nests of this species, and here we first found 

 the nests of its congener the King Eider, (S. 

 spectabilis.) It is in this region that one can 

 realize the wildness of northern scenery. The 

 diversity of the innumerable rocky islands 

 which are surrounded by the sea ; some bare 

 and weather-beaten ; others with trees of 

 stunted growth, while a few tower to a great 

 height, and are densely covered with wood. 

 Such are the island homes of the sea birds. On 

 one of these rocks called Table Rock, represent- 

 ing a platform about two acres in extent, we 

 found the nest of the Black-backed Gi\]\, (Larus 

 marinus), and the Herring Gull (L. argeniatus. 

 It is a curious fact, that each of the rocky 

 islands have been for centuries, the nesting- 

 ground of marine birds, each species selecting 

 and holding to this day its favorite island, where 

 they produce a progeny forming a community 

 of thousands each succeeding season. For 

 instance, an island on which the Arctic Tern 

 (Sterna macroura) breeds, cannot be invaded 

 by any other species ; the little creatures will 

 fight even the larger gulls, aLd hold the locality 

 to themselves. This is not the case with the 

 Great Black-backed Gull, and the Herring 

 Gull, the nests of which are frequently found 

 on the same island, almost within three feet 

 of each other. This is partially accounted 

 for, and further to show the instinctive nature 





