28 JUNE IN FRANC ONI A. 



grosbeaks two males and a female had 

 dropped out of a tree into the undergrowth ; 

 and then, five minutes later, three crossbills 

 two males and a female had risen out 

 of the same undergrowth, and taken almost 

 the very perch which the others had quitted ! 

 Had this strange thing happened? Or had 

 my eyes deceived me? This was my dilem- 

 ma, on the sharp horns of which 1 tried al- 

 ternately for the next eight days to make 

 myself comfortable. 



During all that time, the weather rendered 

 mountain climbing impracticable. But the 

 morning of the 28th was clear and cold, and 

 I set out forthwith for the Eagle Lakes. If 

 the grosbeaks were there, I meant to see 

 them, though I should have to spend all day 

 in the attempt. My botanist had returned 

 home, leaving me quite alone at the hotel; 

 but, as good fortune would have it, before 

 I reached the Profile House, I was over- 

 taken unexpectedly by a young ornithological 

 friend, who needed no urging to try the La- 

 fayette path. We were creeping laboriously 

 up the long, steep shoulder beyond the Ea- 

 gle Cliff gorge, and drawing near the lakes, 

 when all at once a peculiarly sweet, flowing 



