26 OUT TO LAKE ILE A LA CROSSE 



A COMMON FRIEND OF THE VOYAGEUR 



The Spotted Sandpiper is a very common 

 bird on this river. We constantly disturb them 

 as we creep downstream, and they rise before 

 us, piping nervously, in pairs, or in threes or 

 fours, from the river-bank. With flood waters 

 high and covering all sand or pebble spits, they 

 perch always now on dead limbs of fallen trees 

 or uprooted willows which protrude over the 

 bank or lie water-logged in the river. It is re- 

 marked that when flying these birds show a 

 prominent mark of white across the centre of 

 the wings, which is invisible when they are in 

 repose. 



The Swallows are here ! 



Tree Swallows are now arriving. The brief 

 spring is already shortening ; summer is almost 

 here. 



Young Owls 



Before the snows are gone the Great Horned 

 Owls build their nests. To-day we found one. 

 It was in a black poplar tree, not yet in leaf, 

 situated about 20 feet back from the river bank. 

 The nest was about 30 feet from the ground on 

 a strong fork among bare limbs. It was not a 

 large nest — small in comparison to the great 

 size of this species — constructed with dead poplar 

 and lichen-covered spruce twigs, and lined with 

 rabbits' hair. In the nest were two three-quarter- 

 grown young, both very downy ; the down on 

 the larger one a beautiful buff-cream colour, the 



