296 AUDUBON 



what hereabouts is called the 'black soft growth' land, 

 that is, the spruce, pine, and all other firs. The destruction 

 of the trees was effected by the insects cutting the leaves, 

 and you must know that, although other trees are not 

 killed by the loss of their leaves, the evergreens always 

 are. Some few years after this destruction of the larch, 

 the same insects attacked the spruces, pines, and other 

 firs, in such a manner that, before half a dozen years were 

 over, they began to fall, and, tumbling in all directions, 

 they covered the whole country with matted masses. 

 You may suppose that when partially dried or seasoned, 

 they would prove capital fuel, as well as supplies for 

 the devouring flames, which accidentally, or perhaps by 

 intention, afterwards raged over the country, and con- 

 tinued burning at intervals for years, in many places stop- 

 ping all communication by the roads; the resinous nature 

 of the firs being of course best fitted to insure and keep 

 up the burning of the deep beds of dry leaves or of the 

 other trees." Here I begged him to give me some idea 

 of the form of the insects which had caused such havoc. 



"The insects," said he, " were, in their caterpillar form, 

 about three quarters of an inch in length, and as green as 

 the leaves of the trees they fed on, when they committed 

 their ravages. I must tell you also that, in most of the 

 places over which the fire passed, a new growth of wood 

 has already sprung up, of what we lumberers call hard 

 wood, which consists of all other sorts but pine or fir; and 

 I have always remarked that wherever the first natural 

 growth of a forest is destroyed, either by the axe, the 

 hurricane, or the fire, there springs up spontaneously an- 

 other of quite a different kind." I again stopped my host 

 to inquire if he knew the method or nature of the first 

 kindling of the fires. 



" Why, sir," said he, " there are different opinions 

 about this. Many believe that the Indians did it, either to 

 be the better able to kill the game, or to punish their 



