1902] Halkett Observation OF Animals. 159 



confidence the skunk places in its power to eject its strong mal- 

 odorous secretion for defense against its would-be foes. 



Next day we proceeded from Smoke Lake to South Tea Lake, 

 until we reached the head of the Muskoka River, where we 

 pitched our tent. 



The Muskoka River is frequented by the Speckled or Brook 

 Trout [Salvelitms Joniiiialis), which species of fish differs markedly 

 from the salmon-trout in the absence of a toothed crest, or bony 

 projection, on the vomer ; and in the lack of a band of teeth on 

 the hyoid bone ; each of which characters is possessed by the 

 latter. The speckled trout manifests great variability of size and 

 colour, purely regulated, it would seem, by environment, for it 

 inhabits streams, lakes, and even the sea. The sea run variety is 

 known as im?nactilahis, specimens of which were obtained by Dr. 

 Wakeham, at Fort Churchill, when in charge of the "Diana" in 

 her Hudson Bay Expedition. The speckled trout is generally of a 

 dusky green colour, and is ornamented along the sides with 

 bright red spots. 



At a bridge, crossing a dam, from which the Muskoka River 

 has its rise, 1 saw one of those singular rodents called the Ground- 

 hog or Wood-chucic {Arcto7nys fnonax), which creature, although 

 belonging to the Sciui'idcB, or the family of the squirrels, is ex- 

 ceedingly unlike these latter, both in general appearance and in its 

 habits. It is thick-set in lorm, having little of the slender 

 squirrel's nimbleness ; and it makes great burrows in the ground, 

 something like those of a fox, instead of spending its time among 

 foliage and at the tree tops. Typically the ground-hog is one of 

 the marmots. 



Everywhere among the lakes of the Park the Great Northern 

 Diver [Urinator iniber), well known as the loon, has its home. 

 This bird inhabits the round of the northern hemisphere, and fre- 

 quents both fresh and salt water, never venturing, however, far 

 out to sea. I have seen it in Northumberland Straits, and among 

 lakes without number in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. 

 The more one studies the habits of the loon the more interesting 

 it becomes. One may frequently hear its weird cry by night and 

 suppose that to be the limit of its vocalism; the truth is the num- 

 ber of sounds it utters is very varied. Then although it is most 



