NOVEMBER. 333 



sight of a species naturally strikes the attention, and makes 

 a stronger impression on the mind, than the ceasing to see 

 it. We can scarcely arrive at any very definite data on this 

 subject, without the tedious process of making a list, and 

 marking the species that we have seen day by day. The 

 birds that you have mentioned, however, being more fami- 

 liar, are more readily missed than those which remain in 

 the bosom of the woods, and only occasionally fall under our 

 observation. 



C. The poplar and the balm of Gilead have now become 

 almost leafless, and the tamaracks have put on their bright 

 yellow dress. As we look over the adjacent valley, we can 

 easily trace the patches of tamaracks, wherever they occur, 

 and even individual trees ; the bright colour strongly con- 

 trasting with the sombre hue of the other coniferce, among 

 which they grow. It does not appear to be a common tree 

 with us, though on the borders of the river there are some 

 patches of considerable size. The tops of the hardwood 

 forests have a reddish appearance, the terminal twigs of se- 

 veral species having that colour, particularly those of the 

 maple and the basswood. 



F. We may consider the " Indian summer " as over : 

 the present agreeable day being altogether of a different cha- 

 racter. It has been a protracted one, lasting to the frosty 

 night of the 28th, in which a slight shower of snow fell. 

 Many occurrences worthy of notice marked the mildness of 

 the time ; among which, not the least remarkable was the 

 appearance of Dragon-flies (^shna), which I observed 

 hawking about up to the 27th. The Winter Moth (Chei- 

 matobia Vulgaris), and little Autumnal Case-fly, (Phryga- 



nea ?} both Newfoundland insects, have also appeared, 



but these are rather indicative of cold weather than of mild. 



C. A young maple tree was cut down a week or two 

 ago ; from the stump of which the sweet sap exuded just as 



