66 BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 



panse, irregularly oblong in shape, resembles, as do most of the" 

 Maine lakes, a gigantic amphitheatre walled in on every side by 

 distant mountains, which slope gradually from their base to the 

 water's edge, while the unbroken forest which everywhere clothes 

 the surface of the country extends down to the very shore, look- 

 ing in the distance like a carpet of variegated green, the lighter 

 colors of the foliage of the hard-wood trees contrasting beautifully 

 with the sombre darkness of the spruce and fir. Not a single clear- 

 ing or other sign of man's interference occurs in any direction to 

 mar the perfect setting of this forest gem. Even the little steamer, 

 just disappearing behind a distant point, looks as if born to the 

 surroundings, and it requires no great stretch of the imagination to 

 fancy her a gigantic water-fowl ready to dive beneath the surface, 

 like the loon that has just risen in her wake. But these and simi- 

 lar reflections were somewhat abruptly broken by the guide, who, 

 having completed the arrangement of the luggage in the boat, com- 

 menced paddling vigorously towards the western shore, where was 

 to be the scene of our labors. 



" At this place the Androscoggin River leaves the lake, and its 

 banks being somewhat low at the point of debouchure, the level 

 country adjacent for a half-mile or more back is periodically over- 

 flowed. The water, kept at a high point by dams on the river 

 below, flows back into the forest, and the trees, killed in former 

 years by similar inundations, stand in grim array like an army of 

 stricken giants. That such a perfect paradise for the Woodpeckers 

 had not been neglected was speedily manifest as we entered this 

 place, where several species of varying size, from the great Hyloto- 

 mus pileatus down to the trim little Downy, were soon observed. 

 Most abundant of all, however, was the handsome Sphyrapicus varius, 

 several individuals being almost constantly in sight. Commencing 

 our search for nests, we soon found ourselves confused by the very 

 abundance of opportunities, for not only was every tree dead and 

 rotten, but nearly every one was perforated by a greater or less 

 number of Woodpecker's holes. The method quickly adopted as 

 the only practicable one was to paddle about among the trees, and, 

 striking forcibly with an axe all that contained likely looking holes, 

 watch for the appearance of the possible occupant. Proceeding in 

 this way, multitudes of Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and Grakles 

 (Quiscalus purpureus) were dislodged, the former occupying deserted 

 nests of the smaller Woodpeckers, and the latter natural cavities 



