6 The Wilson Buli,etix — Xo. TO. 



fold. In the first place, I wished to visit some youno- men of 

 my acquaintance who were in camp on that river at that time, 

 and in the second place, I figured that I would be able to see 

 and study many strange birds while there, and thus take a new 

 hold on ornithology. It was an easy matter to make the 

 necessary arrangements for the trip, and on the evening of 

 July 31, I found myself comfortably installed in a Grand 

 Trunk R. R. passenger coach on the way from Toronto to 

 Peterboro. 



While traveling by rail through a strange country, one can 

 often learn a great many interesting things, not only about its 

 general features, but also about its fauna and flora. During 

 my ride from Toronto to Peterboro I kept this fact in mind 

 and maintained a sharp lookout for birds, trees, animals, and 

 unique features of the landscape. It goes without saying that 

 I was well repaid for my efforts. 



While passing along the north shore of Lake Ontario, one 

 sees but little in the way of interesting scenery, save occasional 

 .glimpses of the lake and of dusky evergreen forests. After 

 passing Port Hope and plunging into the interior, however, 

 one finds a wild, picturesque and hilly country, that is very 

 pleasing to see. Here the frequent appearance of log cabins 

 and slab-houses reminds the traveler that he is in a new 

 country, and one that has but recently been wrested from its 

 primeval inhabitants. Another peculiarity about the farming 

 districts of this country and one that immediately appeals to 

 the eye of the observer, is the abundance of " stump fences." 

 No doubt the pioneers of the country had considerable diffi- 

 culty in disposing of these huge stimips. and owing to the 

 scarcity of fence material, they conceived the idea of dragging 

 them into rows and making rude, impromptu fences of them. 

 In this way they killed two birds with one stone. As a matter 

 o£ fact, however, these fences have always been considerable 

 of a nuisance by reason of their furnishing a ready and safe 

 hiding place for the woodchucks, skunks, weasles, and other 

 destructive wild animals. 



