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T H E R A Z O R - B I L L E D A U K .
TORDA, LINN.
PLATE CCXIV. MALE AND FEMALE.
i&od a ai'fto og oi
A FEW birds of this species occasionally go as far south as New York
during winter; but beyond that parallel I never met w'ith one. From Boston
eastward many are seen, and some breed on the Seal Islands off the
entrance of the Bay of Fundy. These Auks generally arrive on our Atlantic
coast about the beginning of November, and return northward to
breed about the middle of April. During their stay with us, they are
generally seen singly, and at a greater distance from the shores than the
Guillemots or Puffins ; and I have no doubt that they are able to procure
shell-fish at greater depths than these birds. I have observed them fishing
on banks where the bottom was fifteen or eighteen fathoms from the
surface, and, from the length of time that they remained under water,
felt no doubt that they dived to it. On my voyage round Nova Scotia
and across the Gulf of St Lawrence, we saw some of them constantly.
Some had eggs on the Magdeleine Islands, where, as the inhabitants informed
us, these birds arrive about the middle of April, when the Gulf
is still covered with ice. As we proceeded towards Labrador, they passed
us every now and then in long files, flying at the height of a few yards
from the water, in a rather undulating manner, with a constant beat of
the wings, often within musket-shot of our vessel, and sometimes moving
round us and coming so close as to induce us to believe that they had
a wish to alight. The thermometer indicated 44°. The sight of these
files of birds passing swiftly by was extremely pleasing; each bird would
alternately turn towards us the pure white of its lower parts, and again
the jetty black of the upper. As I expected ere many days should pass
to have the gratification of inspecting their breeding grounds, I experienced
great delight in observing them as they sped their flight toward
the north.
After we had landed, we every day procured Auks, notwithstanding
their shyness, which exceeded that of almost all the other sea-birds. The
fishermen having given me an account of their principal breeding places,
the Ripley proceeded toward them apace. One fair afternoon we came
RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 113
in view of the renowned Harbour of Whapati Guan, and already saw its
curious beacon, which, being in form like a huge mounted cannon placed
on the elevated crest of a great rock, produced a most striking effect. We
knew that the harbour was within the stupendous wall of rock before us,
but our pilot, either from fear or want of knowledge, refused to guide us
to it, and our captain, leaving the vessel in charge of the mate, was obliged
to go off in a boat, to see if he could find a passage. He was absent more
than an hour. The Ripley stood off and on, the yards were manned on
the look-out, the sea was smooth and its waters as clear as crystal, but
the swell rose to a prodigious height as it passed sluggishly over the great
rocks that seemed to line the shallows over which we floated. We were
under no apprehension of personal danger, however, for we had several
boats and a very efficient crew ; and besides, the shores were within cannon
shot; but the idea of losing our gallant bark and all our materials
on so dismal a coast haunted my mind, and at times those of my companions.
From the tops our sailors called out " Quite shallow here, Sir."'
Up went the helm, and round swung the Ripley like a duck taken by
surprise. Then suddenly near another shoal we passed, and were careful
to keep a sharp look-out until our commander came up.
Springing upon the deck, and turning his quid rapidly from side to side,
he called out, "All hands square the yards,'" and whispered to me " AlTs
safe, my good Sir." The schooner advanced towards the huge barrier,
merrily as a fair maiden to meet her beloved; now she doubles a sharp
cape, forces her way through a narrow pass ; and lo ! before you opens
the noble harbour of Whapati Guan. All around was calm and solemn ;
the waters were smooth as glass, the sails fell against the masts, but the
impetus which the vessel had received urged her along. The lead was
heaved at every yard, and in a few minutes the anchor was dropped,
kjjj.Reader, I wish you had been there, that you might yourself describe
the wild scene that presented itself to our admiring gaze. We were separated
from the rolling swell of the Gulf of St Lawrence by an immense
wall of rock. Far away toward the east and north, rugged mounds
innumerable rose one above another. Multitudes of frightened Cormorants
croaked loudly as they passed us in the air, and at a distance
fled divers Guillemots and Auks. The mossy beds around us shone with
a brilliant verdure, the lark piped its sweet notes on high, and thousands
of young codfish leaped along the surface of the deep cove as if with joy.
Such a harbour I had never seen before; such another, it is probable, I
VOL. in. H