CURIOSITY EXCITED. 239 



ceases until again awakened at the approach of twilight. 

 The day is passed in the most secluded parts of the 

 forests. But although thus retiring in its habits, it will 

 emerge from its retreat a little before dusk, and fly 

 about the clearings made by the settlers in the woods, 

 probably in search of the ash-heaps left there from the 

 burning of the logs. In these the whip-poor-will loves 

 to roll, scattering the ashes about and fluttering pretty 

 much as our domestic fowls do under similar circum- 

 stances." 



Here Pierre concluded his account of the whip-poor- 

 will. Jake remarked that his own experience of the 

 bird confirmed the young naturalist's statements 

 " though 'tain't allers," he continued, " as them fellurs 

 as writes books agrees with this coon's idees." 



" I forgot to tell you," said Pierre, " of a discovery I 

 made just after I shot the deer. I came upon a game- 

 path so well trodden that I determined to follow it for 

 a short distance. As it did not lead towards the river, 

 I felt curious to ascertain what was the attraction 

 which led so many animals in this direction. I there- 

 fore followed it up, and shortly saw before me at a 

 little distance a clayey bank which seemed to block up 

 the track completely. This was indeed the case, for 

 here the path terminated. The sides of the bank were 

 well worn, and were pitted with many little cavities, 

 while the ground was trodden almost knee-deep in soft 

 mud, in which small pools of stagnant water had col- 

 lected. I knew at once what had led the game to the 



