744 [Assembly 



victim of innumerable enemies. A remarkable fact in natural 

 liistory is observed in relation to these animals, and particularly 

 of the common red squirrel. A distjict of country, which has 

 been nearly exempt from their presence, is suddenly thronged by 

 innumerable multitudes. Every tree and bush and fence appears 

 alive with them, until they at once and as mysteriously dis- 

 appear. This circumstance affords undoubted evidence of the 

 emigration of the squirrel, but to what extent the habit prevails 

 is unknown. Popular opinion assumes, that they traverse Lake 

 Champlain in these progresses. The autumn of 1851 afforded one 

 of these periodical invasions of Essex county. It is well authen- 

 ticated, that the Red squirrel w^as constantly seen in the widest 

 parts of the lake, far out from land, swimming towards the shore, 

 as if familiar with the service ; their heads above water, and their 

 bushy tails erect and expanded, and apparently spread to the 

 breeze. Keaching land, they stopped for a moment, and reliev- 

 ing their active and vigorous little bodies from the water, by an 

 energetic shake or two, they bounded into the woods, as light and 

 free as if they' had made no extraordinary effort. 



The prevalence of these larger animals, and the abundance of 

 fish in the remote lakes, have combined to form in this region, 

 and to cherish a class of men, unknowm to more refined and cul- 

 tivated spheres. They are not numerous, but constitute a very 

 interesting, peculiar and distinctive race. Many a prototype of 

 " Leather Stockings" w^anders amid these mountains and lakes, 

 with equal artlessness and simplicity of character, and with the 

 same bold daring and energy of spirit. They possess dwellings and 

 farms, but these are subordinate interests. Their hearts and habits 

 are in the wilderness ; they traverse it with almost equal facility 

 by day or night, by the guidance of the sun, or enveloped in mist. 

 They penetrate, alone, into the deepest recesses of the mountains, 

 and in the pu- suits of this fascinating life, spend days and even 

 weeks in utter solitude and seclusion. Exercising the instincts of 

 the Indian, they are never bewildered in the mazes of the forest. 

 Some mossy tree, a twig bent or broken months before, affords a 

 certain clue to their position. They trace the game with unerring 

 precision ; their rifles never fail. Their tales of conflicts with 

 gavage beasts, and .hair-breadth escapes from forest dangers, told 



