MERGANSERS. 225 



representative of its race I had seen so far to the 

 westward, and, as might be expected, it recalled the 

 past, transferring memory back to a time when I 

 enjoyed the society of kind friends and valued 

 companions, illuminated by the light of merry laugh- 

 ing eyes. Its constant drip, however, soon drove 

 me off; the wanderer in a strange land could find 

 no shelter under its rain-charged branches. 



From the vicinity of this tree, however, I obtained 

 a view that caused me to alter my direction. About 

 ha]f a mile further to the left I perceived a miniature 

 lake, the waters of which, under the scourging 

 influence of the fitful blast, fretted and wasted their 

 strength against their rocky boundary. Several 

 mergansers, doubtless tired with the bobbing about 

 they had received from the diminutive waves that 

 disturbed the surface of their favourite element, 

 stood upon the beach beyond the influence of the 

 tiny breakers. Although these birds are generally 

 wild, on this occasion my presence was disregarded 

 by them ; and while I stood within fifty yards, 

 those whom the noise of my approach had awakened 

 again replaced their heads under their wings, and 

 in perfect confidence resigned themselves to repose. 

 Meanwhile, remaining perfectly motionless, I scanned 

 carefully the limited horizon. Not a sound pro- 

 claimed the vicinity of other animal life, when the 

 ducks, giving utterance to their shrill call of alarm, 

 suddenly took flight. One of the retreating birds 

 exhibited a broken pen-feather in the wing, and 



Q 



