G2 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 55. 



posed places a few struggling pines, pushing their way up and 

 between their neighbors, give a forecast of what final type would 

 triumph in the end if nature had full sway when the cycle is 

 completed. 



The shores are natm^ally wooded to the water's edge, and 

 are gienerally rocky : marshes or swamp, except of the sphag- 

 num order, about some little land-locked lake are very rare and 

 in consequence the water birds that the innumerable little lakes 

 would otherwise attract are almost entirely absent. The main 

 body of the water fowl pass over this, what would otherwise 

 be to them an attractive land, as quickly as possible and. if 

 they stop at all, make as short a visit as is compatible with 

 their needs. 



One of the most interesting features of the avi-fauna of this 

 country is the difference between the settled and the unsettled 

 portions. The birds of the open are gradually increasing in 

 the most extensive clearings around Bracebridge, but are never 

 seen in the little slashings made by the homesteader on the 

 other side of the lake. In the forest itself during the summer 

 months bird life, to the observer, seems almost entirely absent, 

 although in spring the woods are alive with migrants and the 

 glorious summer evenings are filled with the melody of the 

 Hermit and Wilson's Thrushes, with the silver whistle of the 

 White-throated Sparrow rising above it all. During the 

 period of our stay, however, all this was passed — the sweet 

 songsters had left before the hosts of the fall migrants had ar- 

 rived. We tramped often all day over a varied route that af- 

 forded a variety of country and for hours saw scarcely a single 

 bird or heard a note in spite of the closest attention. General- 

 ly, however, early in the morning and before sunset we could 

 find little bunches of warblers around a certain shore of the 

 island, but it required quick work to observe or collect them as 

 they were gone in but a few minutes, not to be found again. 



The fact that struck us with most force during this time was 

 the apparent absence of any strong migratory movement. 

 There were migrants present, but their numbers were as noth- 

 ing, considering the time of the year. When we left Detroit 

 the great rush of migration had already started, and small and 



