THE PEOGRESS OF THE SEASONS. 317 



with ice. Thus originates the beautiful phenomenon 

 called a silver thaw. Seen in sunlight, when the mists 

 have dispersed, the forest presents a wonderful and magic 

 appearance under such circumstances. The network of 

 the smallest bushes is brought out to prominent notice 

 by the sparkling casing of ice, and the surface of the 

 snow gleams like a mirror. Such a scene as I once 

 beheld it at night by the light of a full moon was most 

 impressively beautiful, and, I would almost say, unreal. 



Should a wind arise before the ice has melted, much 

 mischief is caused amongst the heavily-laden branches, 

 which make the wood resound with their snappings. 



The close of the winter is the most disagreeable season 

 of the year, and the discoloured snow, assuming a round 

 granular shape, resists the sun with wonderful tenacity. 

 Night frosts consolidate the surface, so that small 

 animals, and man himself, are carried on the snow, and 

 leave no track. The bulky moose sinks through ; flying 

 from his pursuers with laborious and painful strides, and 

 leaving a trail of blood along his tracks from the sharp 

 edge of the incrustation cutting his legs, he soon 

 succumbs an easy prey to the wanton poacher. The 

 settlers' sleds and ox-teams are now in full activity, 

 drawing out the logs felled during the winter through 

 the woods and over the lakes to the river-side ; and the 

 farmers hasten their remaining stock of produce to the 

 market and purchase their seeds, striving to return before 

 the final breaking up of the snow leaves the roadway 

 an impassable sea of mud. 



