BIRDS THAT PREY AND SOME THAT DO NOT 497 



OUR COMMON PURPLE GRAKLE, OR CROW 

 BLACKBIRD 



was replaced by the rusty blackbird of the north. 

 During the whole trip I did not see more than 

 three crows, and saw the first goldfinch just after 

 reaching La Toque Junction which was the south- 

 ern end of our journey. On the lower River 

 Croche, below the Gros Rapids, where the sand 

 banks replace the rocks which border the upper 

 river, we found numerous colonies of bank-swal- 

 lows and in every available place there were one 

 or more large holes of 



THE KINGFISHER. 



It was not until we reached the vicinity of La 

 Toque that I heard the vireos talking in the trees, 

 but redstarts, yellow-throats, yellow warblers, song- 

 sparrows, blue-birds, and woodpeckers, were plen- 

 tiful in all neighborhoods adapted to their taste. 



As we came around the bend in the smooth part 

 of the River Croche, our Indians gave an 

 exclamation and I saw a female sheldrake flutter 

 up the stream a short distance and then turn and 

 follow the canoes; and I saw that the Indians were 

 paddling after 



THE YOUNG DUCKS. 



Presently one little fuzzy fellow dove into the 

 water close to the shore, and came up near the 



