Along the Labrador Coast / by Charles Wendell Townsend.

  • Townsend, Charles Wendell, 1859-1934.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Along the Labrador Coast / by Charles Wendell Townsend. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    called here, flying about or swimming on the water, but were quite surprised at the numbers we saw at and near Paroqueet Island off Bradore, the westernmost point touched at along the southern Labrador coast. This is a small island of crumbling red sandstone, with a slightly elevated centre. Here the puffins were flying about, as thick as flies aroimd a sugar-bowl. Many were sitting on the rocks in groups of half a dozen or more, others dotted the surface of the water all about, but the majority were either busily flying away from the island after provender for their young, or were returning with caplin, small silvery fish, hanging from their bills. The birds burrow in the soft rock of the island and a single egg is laid in the burrow. The puffin is a good bird to watch from a steamer, for he allows of close approach before he attempts to get out of the way. After nervously dabbing with his bill at the water a few times, he either dives or flies away. In both cases he may be said to fly aw'ay, for in diving he flops out his wings and continues to