30 OUT TO LAKE ILE A LA CROSSE 



We leave the river and visit Small Lake 



After travelling some distance to-day, we 

 viewed, beyond the low bank on our right, a 

 small inland lake on the east of the river. Through 

 field glasses it was seen that this secluded water 

 held abundant waterfowl, so we decided to port- 

 age the canoe overland to it, and spend the 

 remainder of the day there. The borders of the 

 lake were grown with tall yellow marsh grass, 

 while down to the lake shores crowded compact, 

 sheltering forest, except on the river-side, which 

 was open marsh. Here and there a gaunt, 

 dead, storm-bruised tree stood in the water, 

 landmarks to remember, and the perching places 

 of a small colony of Bonaparte Gulls which were 

 among the many birds on the lake. Black Terns 

 were here in large numbers, flying swallow-like 

 in the air, but, unlike the swallow, plaintively 

 and fussily shrieking over our heads in protest 

 against our approach. Coots were numerous 

 and many duck : Mallard, Pintail, American 

 Scaup Duck, Golden-eye, and Blue-winged Teal. 

 Though ducks appeared scarce on the river they 

 were common enough here. From among other 

 and more uncommon varieties I secured seven 

 specimens, and felt well repaid for having halted 

 and turned aside to this favoured and fascinating 

 habitat of wild fowl. None of the birds on the 

 lake were nesting. They were either still on 

 their journey northward or had but lately arrived 

 in old haunts. I skinned late into the evening at 

 our camp by the shore of the lake, while coots, 

 in scores, splashed noisily, and chattered among 

 the reeds close by. Once or twice, a busy musk- 



