22 



ing in open water at noon, and sweltering in the shade in the afternoon, 

 attended by swarms of hardy and energetic mosquitoes. 



It was surprising to note the rapidity with which the ice dis- 

 appeared from the S.E. Bay. On the morning of the 24th it was firm 

 enough to support a man with a sleigh-load of provisions, by noon only 

 loose pieces were to be seen floating about, while in the evening every 

 sign of ice had disappeared. This rapid melting of the ice is probably 

 caused by a general rise of temperature of the water of the lake from 

 the number of small streams flowing in, until a point is reached suffi- 

 ciently above freezing to allow an expenditure of heat sufficient to melt 

 the ice in all parts simultaneously, which has been previously rotted 

 and honeycombed by the sun's rays. 



The ice in the main body of the lake, owing to its greater volume of 

 water, did not break up for a week later. From May 28th until June 

 27th our men were away for provisions stored during the winter at 

 Lake Ashoupmouchouan. Daring their absence Mr. Macoun and I 

 were employed with latitude observations, attending to weather read- 

 ings, noting the arrivals of the birds, and collecting and noting the 

 growth and development of the various plants, besides this we 

 also made and planted a small garden, putting in the seed 1") rough t in for 

 experiment. The following birds were noted throughout the winter 

 about Mistassini : The chikadee, winter wren, pine grosbeak, white 

 winged crossbill, common red-poll, snow bunting, black snow-bird, 

 whiskey jack or Canadian jay, downy woodpecker, day owl, spruce 

 partridge, partridge, and willow ptarmigan. On May 2nd a flock of 

 Canadian geese passed north. On the third a number of golden-eyed 

 ducks alighted in the open water of the narrows. A single pair of* the 

 greater yellow legs was seen, and a robin was heard on the 7th. 



Then came quite a rush during the next 10 days. 



On the 10th a white bellied swallow, the 11th ruby crowned 

 kinglet, sheldrake and ring- billed gull ; on the 14th the cow-bird, rusty 

 grackle, belted kingfisher and loon; on the 15th the sea coot, and tree 

 sparrow ; on the 20th, the water-thrush, Swain's sparrow, white-throated 

 sparrow and dusky duck,. Then before June 1st hermit thrush, yellow 

 bird, magnolia warbler, black-capped yellow warbler, song sparrow, 



