Burns — Alexander Wilson. 89 



In a footnote, Wilson remarks that the " fishing hawk or 

 osprey" differs considerably from the European forms, and 

 that the celebrated canvasback appears to be the Anas fcrina 

 of Linnorus, an opinion he afterward retracts. The "black 

 duck Avas pcrspiUata (sic), very numerous," is probably not 

 Oidciiii pcvspicillata, Surf Scoter or Black Duck, but Anas 

 rubripcs, Dusky or Black Duck. The "snow-white storks" 

 most certainly were not the "Ardca alba" of Linnaeus, as he 

 seems to think, nor is it plain what species they might be. 

 The "chane" is probably Ardca licrodias, Great Blue Heron 

 and he identifies the " hawk of royal pedigree " as the " white- 

 tailed eagle (falco fulvus), so much sought after by the Ind- 

 ians of North America, for its quill and tail feathers, with 

 which they plume their arrows, ornament their calumet and 

 adorn their dresses." — The Golden Eagle? Wilson walked 

 ten long miles, heavy laden, before locating his party, and dark- 

 ness coming on, they were alarmed by the howling of a 

 wolf and the screaming of a panther; but guided by the light 

 of burning brush in a settler's clearing, reached friends by 

 midnight. The next day a skiff was launched in Cayuga lake 

 and by night a landing made at the cabin of an absent trapper, 

 the good wife making them welcome. The Indian's lament 

 and Wilson's description of their encampment is excellent. 

 Floating down the Oswego to the fort at its mouth, they 

 boarded a sloop on Lake Ontario, bound for Queenstown on 

 the Canadian side of the Niagara River, seven miles below 

 the Falls ,and landing, eagerly pushed forward. It had been 

 stated that the roar of the cataract could be heard for upward 

 of forty miles, while actually the distance depended upon the 

 condition of atmosphere and direction of the wind, Wilson's 

 illustration of this is homely and graphic. 



" Up to the Ridge's top, high winding led, 

 There on a flat, dry plain, we gaily tread ; 

 And stop, and list, with throbbing hearts to hear 

 The long expected cataract meet the ear ; 

 But list in vain. Though five short miles ahead, 

 All sound was hushed and every whisper dead. 

 ' 'Tis strange,' said Duncan, ' here the sound might reach.' 



