stantly bespoke the gentleman and polished citizen of the world. He immediately recognized the name of Audubon, and declared that he had been expecting to greet him during the last three weeks, having read in the journals of his intention to visit Labrador. He then cordially welcomed him to his elegant mansion, and its pleasant inmates. A chosen collection of books, with newspapers from all quarters, evinced that no contracting influences of seclusion had chilled their sympathies or deadened their interest in that society from which they were removed. “How had they thus hidden themselves from the world, with every incentive to mingle pleasantly and profitably in it ?” inquired Audubon.

“Having mixed once in society," replied his companion, "he never wished to return to it. The country around,” he continued, “is all my own, much farther than you can see. No fees, no lawyers, no taxes are here. I do just as I choose. My means are ample through my own industry. Vessels come here for seal skins, seal oil, and salmon, and give me in return all the necessaries, and, indeed, comforts of the life I love to follow. And what else could the world afford? My wife and I teach the children all that is necessary for them to know, and is not that enough? My girls will marry their countrymen, my sons the daughters of my neighbours,

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and I hope all of them will live and die in this country."

In such unambitious happiness, ignorant alike of the aspirations and evils of so-called civilization, dwell the settlers of Labrador!

Frequenting the coast of this interesting country are a class of men, who, the scourge of the feathered species, were regarded by Audubon as the scandal of their own. These buccaneers, whose vocation it is to despoil the nest of every wild bird, in order to dispose of its produce, are known as Eggers.

Their cruel occupation is rendered still more vicious, from the propensity they exhibit to destroy the poor creatures whom they have robbed, adding the crime of inhumanity to that of injustice. In their unwashed shallops, plastered and patched often with the remnants of some luckless vessel plundered by these pirates, they skulk behind the frowning rocks, a refuge for myriads of winged creatures, who there seek unmolested repose. Like evil phantoms of the waters, the boats are stealthily pushed along, manned by their reckless crews, intent on evil.

On their approach towards some island for their prey, clouds of birds rising, thicken the air, wheeling and screaming around, as though in defiance of their dreaded enemies. Some in the vain hope of saving their cherished young

remain still. But instantly the reports of muskets loaded with heavy shot are heard, and the dead and wounded fall in numbers to the earth. Collecting their prey, they then return to their vessels, to celebrate with drunken orgies their brutal triumph. Stripping off their beautiful feathered apparel, while the flesh of their victims is yet warm, they throw them on the coals. Then filling repeatedly their rum flasks, with shouting and revelry the night is far spent, till at length tumbling and snoring, the crazy crew fall into uneasy slumbers. With the return of morning they are again on the alert, when the sun shines brightly on the snow-clad mountains, and fresh breezes shake the heavy dew-drops from the boughs.

Startled by the pure eye of day upon them, the Eggers arise, and make for some other spot sheltered as before, where, undisturbed, they may betake themselves again to their ferocious employment. Thus passing their days in cruelty, and their nights in revelry, the marauders spend weeks in these occupations. Touching in succession at every island along the coast, propitious to their guilty purposes, ample gatherings are made by them to satisfy their sordid minds. Sometimes, enraged at competition in their degraded traffic by a band of desperadoes like themselves, a challenge is given, musketry is dis

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charged, and careless of the lives of their fellowcreatures, as they are of those of the helpless inhabitants of the air, they fight like wild beasts for a contested prey. Not till fractured skulls and wounded limbs give evidence of the fray, is it brought to a satisfactory conclusion, when fraternising, they divide the booty.

Not only against their rivals do the ruffians wage war, but against mariners, who in the dauntlessness of innocence boldly traverse the waters. Often they are surprised and robbed by these lawless crews, who infest the coast whenever a covert may be found. Yet not unfrequently they meet with a merited punishment. In a company of a hundred, perhaps, the fishermen gallantly advance their boats. Disdaining to carry other weapons, they use the sufficient ones of their fists and oars. They prepare boldly to ascend the rock, where they are awaited by the enemy-a dozen Eggers armed with guns and bludgeons. Loud cheers re-echo through the air, a fierce contest ensues, but the van. quished Eggers are generally left bruised upon the ground.

So unremitting are these pirates in their depredations, as to threaten the entire extinction of various species of birds, once abundant in resorts which they abandon in search of unmolested retreats. Gulls, guillerots, and puffins

are especally massacred in vast numbers, on account of their feathers. Eventually, however, this unrelenting persecution will be the means of its own extinction, when the multitude of birds, once a prey to these pirates, no longer exist to attract them to their haunts.

Returning from Labrador, Audubon, as he sailed along the northern coast of Newfound. land, while others beguiled themselves with various amusements, enjoyed a satisfaction which was for him unequalled—that of beholding the grandeur of creation displayed in the majestic scenery of those shores, softened by a fertility unknown in Labrador. Here, though along the foot of huge projections of rock, which, like fragments of mountains overhang the sea, the waters dash with terrific force; more distant valleys clad with verdure, intermingling with which are gently swelling hills, prove the luxuriance of vegetable growth.

Numerous habitations add to the cheerfulness of the aspect, while the boats, with their white sails expanded to the breeze, flutter like silvery sea-birds about the inlets which every now and then appear. Clouds of curlews dash through the air as they wing their way to the south. Nearer, the pleasant sight of cattle feeding in cultured meadows, and people busy at their avocations continue to gladden the view.