32 the ornithologist's guide 



this country) joining the cry, drew themselves out 

 in martial array, as if determined to dispute our 

 further entrance. The watchword was speedily 

 passed to the interior of the mansions, and was 

 first answered by the children, whose squalling, 

 combined with the barking and grunting, produced 

 such melody as could not have failed to dishearten 

 any stranger from entering into their society. The 

 men and women quickly sallied out to ascertain 

 the cause of this sudden interruption of their slum- 

 bers, almost in a state of nudity, and stood staring 

 at us in mute astonishment. There are but three 

 families in the town-, all fishermen j and although 

 the trunks are so few in number, yet the branches 

 are very numerous. The population in this place is 

 certainly on the increase ; I do not know whether 

 It is in proportion to the production or not, but 

 from the appearance of the place and the country 

 around it I should say they are not equal. I used 

 often to wonder what might be the cause of this pro- 

 lific quality of the inhabitants, whether their diet or 

 mode of life might' have any effect ; the former is 

 extremely simple, fish, milk, and potatoes being 

 the chief articles : fishing in the summer and farm- 

 ing in the winter are their only occupation. The 

 climate in the summer and autumnal months is 

 pretty steady, in the winter and spring damp and 



