MANY BIRDS OBSERVED 57 



miserably wet before evening. During the day 

 the following birds were observed : Leconte 

 Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Fly- 

 catcher, Yellow Warbler, Tree Swallow, Red- 

 winged Blackbird, Belted Kingfisher, Snipe, 

 Bittern, Mallard, Shoveller, Golden-eye, Blue- 

 winged Teal, Holboell Grebe, Black Tern, Crow, 

 Raven, Osprey. 



June 7 (Sunday). — Awoke this morning after 

 a miserable night passed on water-soaked ground 

 in damp blankets. The activities of the mos- 

 quitoes on the 5th were sure forecast of rain, and 

 so rain had come. It rained all day, and we did 

 not attempt to move on but sat tight within 

 the shelter of my small silk tent. I skinned the 

 specimens I had collected yesterday, while Joe 

 did his best to nurse a spluttering fire before the 

 tent-door for the cooking of meals. Rain can be 

 a most disconcerting element when canoeing and 

 camping-out in this fashion, far from any settle- 

 ment ; a steady downpour will very soon find a 

 way into every conceivable corner, no matter 

 how well you have fancied you have taken pre- 

 cautions against it, and the result is that before 

 long you sit among your far-carried, dearly 

 valued possessions and see them in a state of 

 half ruin before your eyes. Then only sunshine 

 can lift your depression, and, in spite of your 

 unpleasant experience, when Old Sol breaks 

 through again you find yourself gaily arranging 

 your possessions before its heat, and looking 

 out on the world with a freshened optimism. 

 Rain was, however, by no means a constant 

 tyrant, for we experienced a beautiful summer 



