Notices of New Books. 



8191 



were very like hony combes full of holes being flead off: they dressed 

 and eate them and found them to be very good and nourishing meat.' 



" In a letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt, of the Middle Temple, 

 containing a report of the true state and commodities of Newfound- 

 land, by C M. Anthonie Parkhurst Gentleman,' dated ' From Bristow, 

 the 13th of Nouember 1578,' is this passage : — 



" * There are Sea Guls, Murres, Duckes, wild Geese, and many other 

 kind of birdes store, too long to write, especially at one Island named 

 Penguin, where wee may driue them on a planke into our ship as many 

 as shall lade her. These birdes are also called Penguins, and cannot 

 flie, there is more meate in one of these than in a goose : the French- 

 men that fish neere the grand Baie, doe bring small store of flesh with 

 them, but victuall themselues alwayes with these birdes.' 



" Again, in c A report of the voyage and successe thereof, attempted 

 in the yeere of our Lord 1583 by Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, &c, 

 written by M. Edward Haies gentleman, &c. :' — 



" 6 We had sight of an Hand named Penguin, of a foule there breed- 

 ing in abundance almost incredible, which cannot flie, their wings not 

 being able to carry their body, being very large (not much lesse than 

 a goose) and exceeding fat : which the French men vse to take with- 

 out difficulty vpon that Hand, and to barrell them vp with salt. But 

 for lingering of time we had made vs there the like prouision.' 



<c The passage just quoted is no libel on the French sailors of those 

 days. It is entirely confirmed by the narrative of Jacques Carthier's 

 third voyage. 1 have not been able to obtain a sight of the original 

 work, and must content myself with the extract as given by Professor 

 Steenstrup. After speaking of the incredible abundance of birds at 

 the so-called ' He des Oyseaux,' near Cape Bona-vista, the writer goes 

 on to observe : — 



" 'Neantrnoins il-y-a cent fois plus a l'entour d'icelle, et en Fair que 

 dedans, desquels les vns sont grands, comme Pies noirs & blancs, 

 ayans le bee de Corbeau : ilz sont tousiours en mer, et ne peuvent 

 voler haut, d'autant que leurs ailes sont petites, point plus grandes 

 que la moitie de la main, avec lesquelles toutefois ilz volent de telle 

 vitesse a fleur d'eau, que les autres oyseaux en l'air. Ilz sont ex- 

 cessivement gras, et estoient appellez par e'eux du pais Apponath, 

 desquelz noz deux barques se chargerent en moins de demi heure, 

 comme Ton auroit peu faire de cailloux, de sorte qu'en chaque navire 

 nous en fimes saler quatre ou cinq tonneaux, sans ceux que nous 

 mangeames frais.' " 



It would be idle and untruthful in me to say that Mr. Newton has 



