1885.] Life and Nature in Southern Labrador. 273 
posed boggy places or moors, in which are pools of water, sup- 
porting water boatmen, case worms, aquatic beetles and numer- 
ous water fleas, and an occasional hair worm or Gordius. 
‘Along the lower portions by the shores are patches of salt 
marsh with {shallow pools of water, which in the spring and 
autumn are undoubtedly frequented by ducks and geese, though 
only a few of the former were to be seen. Indeed, I was sur- 
prised to see so few sea-fowl. They were principally the parro- 
quet, which abounded on the sea a mile or two away from shore. 
A favorite breeding place of this most interesting of arctic birds 
was in the soft red Cambrian sandstone of Bradore, an island 
lying fifteen miles easterly from Caribou island. With their pow- 
erful parrot-like beaks they excavate the crumbling rock, extend- 
ing their galleries in to the distance of several feet. Three of our 
party made an expedition to this well-known breeding resort, and 
in thrusting their hands into the burrows received an occasional 
bite from the sharp strong bills of the birds, which was not soon 
forgotten. Ducks were occasionally seen, the eider duck and 
also the coot, as well as the loon, both the northern diver and the 
red-necked loon. Shore birds, particularly the ring-necked plo- 
ver, and others ot its family, abounded, while the most familiar 
bird was a white-headed sparrow which nested near our camp. 
It was not yet the time for the curlews. About the middle of 
July the shelldrake and coot, which breed in the inland ponds, 
lead out their young and appear in great numbers. The old ones 
are wary and hard to shoot, but the young will then be in fine 
condition. At this time the “long-shore-men” abandon their 
diet of salt pork, bread and molasses, and feast on game, for then 
we were assured they have “ great plenty fowl.” 
In August, also, one or two families of the red Indians or mount- 
aineers of the interior come down to the mouth of the Esqui- 
maux, or “ Hawskimaw ” river, as it is pronounced by the settlers, 
to hunt seal, especially the young, and ducks as well as curlew. © 
These Indians are entirely governed in their wandering by the 
situation of the deer and other game. One may travel a hundred 
miles up the Esquimaux river without meeting them. 2 
I saw but a single Esquimaux man at Caribou island. His 
low stature, his prominent, angular cheek bones, pentagonal 
face and straight black hair sufficiently characterized his stock. 
The only other native Esquimaux was the wife of an Englishman, 
VOL. XIX.—NO. III. 18 ‘ 
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