RICHABDSON LAKE. 353 



the summit of some stony hill-side. The timber here is 

 very beautiful, much superior to what we have formerly 

 met, and the graceful, silver birch prevails a tree than 

 which no prettier or more beautiful exists. Although the 

 road, in some places, must be quite half a mile from the 

 water, still the deep rumbling of the numerous rapids is 

 distinctly audible the neighbouring portion of the 

 Androscogan River being wild and broken in the extreme. 



We have scarcely ever threaded this part of our journey 

 without seeing ruffed grouse, and frequently Canada grouse, 

 one of the most beautiful of the indigenous birds, and 

 resembling more closely than any of the American family 

 the red grouse of Scotland ; the deep scarlet iris, the rich, 

 dark chestnut colouring of both are similar ; but they are 

 totally opposed to one another in habits of life, the one 

 preferring the open, heather-covered mountain slopes wild 

 as a hawk, unless when engaged in family cares the other, 

 thoughtless and careless of danger, and never seen away 

 from the densest retreats of the woods. So tame are the 

 Canada grouse that, during my residence in Maine, I knew 

 one of the hotel proprietor's sons to catch an old cock-bird, 

 by slipping a noose, attached to the end of a stick, over its 

 head. But our promenade is near an end. The woods 

 appear less dense as we advance, and soon the flag, that 

 floats over the shanty which is to be our future dormitory, 

 appears in view, with the placid waters of Richardson Lake 

 close by, while numerous irregular hills, all clothed with 

 pine timber to the summit, form the background. 



Generally this beautiful lake is smooth as glass, without 

 a ripple, excepting what may be caused by the break of 



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