Shankland — On Birds on Otonabee River. 19 



been a raccoon or opossum, or perhaps some straggling lynx 

 that had taken a fancy to our discarded meat scraps and fish 

 heads. We made no attempt to molest it, and it finally went 

 away. 



At half-past four the following morning we arose, ate a light 

 luncheon of crackers and cheese to tide us over until break- 

 fast time, and then set out on a short fishing trip down the 

 river. The morning was one of those rare and beautiful ones 

 that fill the body with vigor and magnetism and render all the 

 senses keen and alert. Above the hills in the east the first 

 glow of dawn was becoming visible ; among the forest trees, 

 thrushes, warblers, and sparrows were singing their matin 

 songs ; in the waters of the river hundreds of fish were seek- 

 ing their breakfasts, and at intervals one of them would leap 

 out of the water to snatch some passing insect and fall back 

 into the water again with a splash. As we rowed along, 

 Kingfishers greeted us from time to time with their rattling" 

 calls .and a^ we ]:)asscd by strips of sandy beach, Spotted 

 Sandpipers uttered their musical " weet weet " calls and flew 

 away down stream, keeping so close to the water that they 

 seemed to almost touch it. A mist hung over the river and 

 marshes, and for that reason we failed to notice a flock of 

 lUack Ducks until we were almost upon them, when they 

 arose from the water with a great splashing of wings and 

 made their way quickly out of sight down the river. There is 

 a pleasure in being amid such scenes and surroundings that 

 cannot be adequatel}- described. It is a deep, subtle, and 

 healthful joy that seems to appeal to all the senses at the same 

 time. You wdio are lovers of nature and the out-of-door life 

 will imderstand and appreciate it, for you have undoubtedly 

 experienced the same joy many times while sojourning in the 

 wilderness. 



After we had reached a propitious looking stretch of deep 

 water, my companions ceased rowing-, dropped the drags over- 

 board and prepared to do some angling-. I followed their ex- 

 ample, and soon all four of us wer.e intently watching our 



