138 SPECKLED TROUT. 



inches in length, and it seemed as if the hues of all 

 the precious metals and stones were reflected from 

 their sides. The flesh was deep salmon-color ; that 

 of brook trout is generally much lighter. Some 

 hunters and fishers from the valley of the Mill Brook, 

 whom we met here, told us the trout were much 

 larger in the lake, though far less numerous than 

 they used to be. Brook-trout do not grow large till 

 they become scarce. It is only in streams that have 

 been long and much fished that I have caught them 

 as much as sixteen inches in length. 



The " porcupigs " were numerous about the lake, 

 and not at all shy. One night the heat became so 

 intolerable in our oven-shaped bough house, that I 

 was obliged to withdraw from under its cover and 

 lie down a little to one side. Just at daybreak, as I 

 lay rolled in my blanket, something awoke me. Lift- 

 ing up my head, there was a porcupine with his fore- 

 paws on my hips. He was apparently as much sur- 

 prised as I was ; and to my inquiry as to what he at 

 that moment might be looking for, he did not pause 

 to reply, but hitting me a slap with his tail which 

 left three or four quills in my blanket, he scampered 

 off down the hill into the brush. 



Being an observer of the birds, of course every 

 curious incident connected with them fell under my 

 notice. Hence as we stood about our camp-fire one 

 afternoon, looking out over the lake, I was the only 

 one to see a little commotion in the water, half hid- 

 den by the near branches, as of some tiny swimmer 



