I eg The Ottawa Naturalist. [November 



hind : heavily it flaps along, finally alighting at the edge of the 

 lake, or upon the branch of a tree, where it remains so motionless 

 as to resemble a piece of water-worn wood, and this deceptive 

 appearance is doubtless of benefit to the bird in procuring its 

 piscivorous food. 



In the afternoon of this day we visited Ragged and Porcupine 

 lakes, the latter of these being immediately in the outskirts of the 

 Park ; and the former is connected with it by a rapid and pictur- 

 esque stream, continued by a long water course plenteously 

 studded with lilies. 



In Ragged Lake, in deep water, we found a Ling or Burbot 

 [Lota maculosa), which species offish is the sole fresh water re- 

 presentative of the Gadidce, or the fishes of the cod family, in our 

 Dominion. " The ling is elongated in shape, having two small bar- 

 bels at the nostrils, and a longer one at the edge of the lower jaw. 

 There are two dorsal fins, the first very short and the second very 

 long ; and one anal fin which corresponds with the second dorsal 

 in structure and plan. The caudal fin is barely attached to the 

 second dorsal and anal, and is rounded at the extremity. The 

 ventral fins, as in the cod and haddock, are jugular, or placed be- 

 fore the pectorals. The ling has scales but they are very minute 

 and embedded in the skin, so that casually it might be mistaken 

 for a scaleless fish. 



As we were returning to the hut, we saw a skunk at the top 

 of a timber-slide, which connects Ragged and Smoke lakes ; and 

 the pleasure of seeing this beautiful creature in its native haunts 

 was not accompanied with any pestiferous odour, the way, usually, 

 in which most persons are made aware that that unpopular mem- 

 ber of the MusteltdcB is in the neighborhood. The Skunk [Me- 

 phitis viephetica) is coloured black, and diversified with white down 

 its sides, behind the head, and at the tip of the tail. It is subject, 

 however, to variation, and this individual was very beautiful, 

 because a great portion of the tail was waved with white. It was 

 not in a hurry to get out of the way, as the porcupines were : the 

 well known reason ot this leisurely habit being on account of the 



^The tomcod {Microgadtis) might be considered an exception, but it is 

 anadromous (or merely ascends rivers to spawn), its enviponment, ordinarily, 

 being in salt or brackish water. 



