SIDE IvlGHTS ON BIRDS 



Fannans have the strongest interest for the 

 ornithologist. Vast numbers of birds break 

 their journey there, both on their spring and 

 autumn passages. 



Some idea of the number of bird visitors to 

 these bleak outlying rocks may be gained from 

 the fact that 115 species have already been re- 

 corded, including such extremely rare and un- 

 expected varieties as the Short-toed L,ark, the 

 Two-barred Crossbill, the Siberian Skylark, and 

 the Pratincole. One interesting experience men- 

 tioned is that on a certain morning following a 

 high wind from the south-west, the island was 

 found to be swarming with jack snipe. 



As one thinks of these desolate rocks in the 

 Hebrides the mind goes back to a very different 

 scene. 



In one of the vast Muskoka lakes in Canada there 

 is a little island that is never visited, yet it is a 

 perfect little paradise for the naturalist. From 

 its soft grassy banks great maples spring, casting 

 their shade over a vast profusion of flowers. 

 Swallow-tails, black-veined browns, and many 

 other butterflies flit hither and thither, and 

 through the dark green leaves one may catch the 

 golden gleam of the Baltimore oriole or the 

 metallic sheen of the pui-ple grackle. As evening 

 draws near the strange cry of the whip-poor-will 

 rings out from the woods, and the black bass 

 begin to move in the rock pools. 



A most charming little estate where, surely, a 

 philosopher might hve contentedly. 



Yet it is unknown, or at any rate, the nearest 

 inhabitant, a man who combined the duties of 

 landlord of the hotel, land agent, and so on, had 

 never heard of it. 



However we located it together on the map. 

 " Nice little spot, you think," he said. " Well, 

 I'll sell it to you — 15 dollars." 



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