316 FOBEST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



titmice or gold-crests, sporting amongst tlie foliage, 

 lodge a shower of sparkling crystals — 



" Myriads of gems that in the waving gleam 

 Gay-twinkle as they scatter," 



when the disencumbered bough flies back to its original 

 position. The faintest sound finds an echo amongst the 

 stems of the forest trees ; the chopping of an axe is 

 borne through the still rarified air for many a mile. 

 Bird-life is in full activity. The Corvidse, the raven, 

 crow, blue-jay, and moose-bird are hunting round for 

 their morning meal of carrion. The grosbeaks and 

 crossbills, busily engaged on the fir-cones, frequently 

 rest to deliver their low but melodious song from the 

 topmost sprays of the pines. The taps of the wood- 

 peckers resound from the hard surface of barked trees, 

 and the sharp, wrathful chirrup of the common red 

 squirrel (Sciurus Hudsonius) is heard in every direction. 

 The very flight of birds may be heard at a considerable 

 distance, as may also the scratching of a squirrel against 

 the bark as he races up a trunk some two hundred yards 

 ^way, or the shuffling of the porcupine in the top 

 branches of a hemlock, his favourite retreat on a fine 

 winter's day. 



Short-lived, however, are such pleasant breaks in the 

 winter weather. The short day, commencing so bril- 

 liantly, more frequently closes with a prevailing leaden 

 gloom portending more snow, or, if near the sea-coast, a 

 fierce southerly gale and rain. 



In a damp atmosphere, or with gentle rain, the stratum 

 of air nearest the ground being of a temperature below 

 freezing point, every spray in the forest becomes coated 



