built their nests so densely upon the rocks as to cover
the whole of the upper surface. At the base of one of
these Bird Rocks Cartier stopped his ships in their
westward course, and his men killed great numbers of the
birds so easily that he declared he could have filled
thirty boats with them in an hour.

The explorers continued on their way, and a sail of a
few hours brought them to an island like to none that
they had yet seen. After the rock-bound coast of the
north it seemed, indeed, a veritable paradise. Thick
groves of splendid trees alternated with beautiful glades
and meadow-land, while the fertile soil of the island,
through its entire length of about six miles, was carpeted
with bright flowers, blossoming peas, and the soft colours
of the wild rose. 'One acre of this land,' said Cartier,
'is worth more than all the New Land.' The ships lay off
the shore of the island all night and replenished the
stores of wood and water. The land abounded with game;
the men of St Malo saw bears and foxes, and, to their
surprise they saw also great beasts that basked upon the
shore, with 'two great teeth in their mouths like
elephants.' One of these walruses,--for such they doubtless
were,--was chased by the sailors, but cast itself into
the sea and disappeared. We can imagine how, through the
long twilight of the June evening, the lovely scene was
loud with the voices of the exultant explorers. It was
fitting that Cartier should name this island of good omen
after his patron, the Seigneur de Brion, admiral of
France. To this day the name Brion Island,--corrupted