i-6o The Ottawa Naturalist. [November 



at home upon the lake, or in pursuit of fishes beneath its surface, 

 it can, once it has succeeded in gaining the open atmosphere, for 

 it is so shapen that to rise from the surface of the water requires 

 an effort, fly at its ease, and is thus enabled to carry on its change 

 of haunt from place to place. As loons are dotted about, singly 

 or in pairs, all over the lakes it is interesting to hear their calls to 

 each other, for in this way they keep track of one another's where- 

 abouts. It is rare to see more than a pair together, but during 

 my visit to the Park in Ragged Lake one day I saw four, and 

 as two of them, in the distance, seemed somewhat smaller than 

 the other two, I take it that the four represented the two parent 

 birds and the two of the season's brood, then almost matured, 

 Owing to the posterior position of the legs and feet, after the 

 manner of the penguins, which formerly were classed with the 

 divers by ornithologists, the loon is verj' awkward on land, and 

 so the nest, often a mere depression, is built close to the water's 

 edge. The plumage and general contour of the loon is beautiful, 

 and the bird is dignified with a brilliant red iris. The head and 

 neck are lustrous greenish black, the neck being marked with 

 white streaks, presenting a ring-like appearance. The back and 

 wings are black variegated with white spots and marks, and the 

 tail is black. The breast is glossy white. The eggs are two in 

 number, occasionally three, olive-brown in colour, and covered 

 with darker brown spots. 



Few batrachians were observed excepting Bull Frogs [Rana 

 calesbzana), which were basking in numbers along the muddy 

 sides of Potter's Creek, a zig-zag water-way, forming an inlet to 

 Canoe Lake; and I was struck with the vividness of their colours. 



Of reptiles I was surprised at the almost entire absence of 

 snakes, and the only representative of the class Reptilia which I 

 saw was a large female snapping-turtle : nevertheless Mr. Bartlett 

 informs me that turtles are common in the Park. 



The Snapping Turtle [Chelydra serpentina) has the shell, or ca- 

 rapace,, proportionally small, so that it cannot entirely retract itself. 

 The plastron, or under shell, is still smaller in proportion. The 

 tail is long- and beset at intervals with solid and pointed shields or 

 crests. The feet are webbed. This turtle is furnished with strong 

 claws and hooked jaws, wherewith to defend itself; and may 



