THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AM) NATI'II ALTST. 



51 



of the same species which formerly bred in 

 large numbers on the eduth coast of the Gulf, 

 where their nests were annually robbed, the 



gulls as a last resource took the trees to build 

 (heir nests, in order to be out of the easy reach 

 of m; n. Several miles iurther down the coasi 

 between Watsheesho and Washshecootai, the 

 rocky islands contain many fissures, and these 

 are occupied by the Razor-billed Auk, (Alca 

 torda),a bird which makes no nest. It deposits 

 a single egg which is laid in a crevice. When 

 searching tor the eggs of the Auk, on several 

 occasions the parent bird was found dead along- 

 side of its egg. In every instance a slight wound 

 was detected on the side of the head, behind the 

 ear. We were afterwards informed that these 

 birds were frequently destroyed by a species of 

 weasel which inhabit the island. As we proceed 

 further, the harbor of Kegaska is reached, 

 below which stands the rocky islands of Mus- 

 quarro, about five miles from Washshecootai 

 Bay. Here the collector will find the home of 

 the common Guillimot, ( Una ringvia). From 

 this point northward this bird deposits its egg 

 on any bare cavity it can find. These rocks are 

 visited by men from vessels sent to collect 

 them when fresh, and a large trade is annually 

 made in the eggs of marine birds, which are 

 thus collected and carried to the American 

 markets for sale. The Indians, generally arrive 

 on the coast at the time when ducks, gulls 

 and guillimots are nesting. On their way to 

 the. Mission Church at Mingan, all the bird- 

 frequenting islands are visited by them, and 

 every fres-h egg found is taken away and eaten. 

 They also collect the down from the nests of 

 the Eider Duck, which they generally sell at 

 the rate of sixty cents per lb. We have slept 

 on eider-down beds on the Labrador coast, each 

 of which was valued at from sixty to seventy 

 dollars. The residents send boats to these 

 islands where the eggs of ducks, gulls, guili- 

 mots are collected and tested by placing them 

 in water. The fresh eggs are placed in barrels 

 containing a solution of water and lime, and in 

 the absence of the latter, ashes will answer. 



and they thus keep good for winter nee. 

 great bulk oi the marine birds found breeding 

 on the northern caasf of the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, are similar to those found in the North 

 of Scotland. The true American marine bird-, 

 such as the Labrador duck, (.Camptolcemus 

 Labradorius), Velvet duck, (Melanelta <•-/- 

 veHna), Burl Scoter, (Palionetta •perfpili 

 Brant Goose, (Bernicla brenta), Sea I 

 Mergulus alle) and the gen uj Stercorarhu have 

 not been discovered breeding on the southern 

 coast at Labrador. Audubon says that he 

 found nests of the Surf Scoter on the margin 

 of lakes near the south coast, but the In 

 inform us that these duck- now nest only 'n 

 Northern Labrador. The Northern Phala 

 (Phalaropus hyperboreus), in summer plui - 

 age was shot near Mingan, bul the nest has 

 been discovered. The Red-breasted Merganser 

 (Mergus serratof) occurs abundantly, nesting 

 on the margin of inland lakes. The woodland 

 birds which were found breeding near the i 

 were very few. Sir Greville Smyth, who was 

 fishing the Mingan, found a nest of the Tod- 

 tailed Hawk, {Buito borealis). It contained 

 two young ones, which could feed themselves 

 at the end of July. The Pigeon-Hawk, (Hypo- 

 triochius columbarius) nests on this coast, and 

 also on the island o\' Anticosti. We found the 

 nest of the Black-poll Warbler, (Dendroica 

 striata), on the third of June. It was in a low 

 fir tree, and contained tour eggs. A nest of the 

 Black and Yellow Warbler was discovered on 

 the 1 7th June. The common Yellow Warbler 

 (2). MStiva) was abundant, also the Redstart, 

 Setophaga ruticilla). The White-throated 

 Sparrow ( Zonotirichia albicotlis), and die 

 White-crowned Sparrow {JZ. leuccphrys). Two 

 species of Cross-bill; the Pine Finch, and the 

 Purple Finch were noticed. The sweet song of 

 the Fox-coloured sparrow (Passerella iliaca), 

 is pleasing to the ear as we wander through 

 the open parts of these northern forests, and it 

 was with no little joy that we discovered the 

 nest on the 15th of June, and authenticated its 

 eggs for the first time. Audubon has made a 



