734 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
east, hugging the shore of the mainland, and when they reach 
the beach, either fly out to sea across a narrow place just above 
the camp, or else turn and follow the line of ponds which lie 
just behind the beach. Just at the point where the birds 
usually turned, the Eskimos had set up a row of posts reaching 
to the tents. Then on favorable days they concealed them- 
selves in shallow pits dug in the narrow ridge above the camp. 
When a flock of birds reached the right spot, the gunners 
would set up a shrill yell. Frightened by this and by the line 
of posts, for they fly low, nine times out of ten the ducks would 
falter, become confused, and finally collecting into a compact 
body, would whirl along the line of posts, past the tents, flying 
close to the water, and turn out to sea at the first open space, 
which is just where the gunners are posted. 
When the eiders were flying during the spring migration, not 
a man, woman, or child of either village ever stirred outdoors 
without at least one set of bird bolas. This weapon, with its 
six ivory balls, they used with considerable skill, though I have 
often seen it thrown at foolishly long range. It is a curious sight 
to see a duck settle down out of a flock, as the twisting cords 
wind themselves round his wings. 
We have now enumerated all of the most important mam- 
mals and birds with which these Eskimos were acquainted, and 
have pointed out the different ways in which they were in the 
habit of making use of them. Much that would be interesting 
might be said about the fishes of the region, as well as what 
the Eskimos told us of what they thought about the lower 
animals, but space will not permit. 
