In North- West Canada. 149 



CHAPTER XIX. 



UNE 17th. Soon after breakfast, the train came 

 along from the west, and in a few minutes I was 

 on my way to Oak Lake, arriving here about 9 

 o'clock. Having secured a room at the hotel, op- 

 posite the station, 1 hired a horse and buggy and 

 instructed the hotel proprietor to make me up a lunch 

 to take along with me. Having enquired my way to the lake, 

 I drove away from the village. Oak Lake is situated about 

 five miles south-west of the station of that name. 



It was a lovely June morning, and I felt in splendid form and 

 very light-hearted as I drove along the winding trail, south- 

 ward. The balmy atmosphere was laden with perfume from 

 sweet-scented flowers, and several bobolinks were singing mer- 

 rily along the roadside. I had to pass through a bushy district 

 of scrub oak, and noticed a pair of Swainson's buzzards circling 

 over the trees, so I made up my mind to examine this place on my 

 return ; being anxious to put in a good day at the lake, I drove 

 onward. After going along several trails that only led to farm 

 houses, and having to turn back more than once, the glisten- 

 ing lake at last came in view. It appeared to be about five 

 miles long by two broad. 



On its northern shores are several bluffs, so I tied the horse 

 to a tree and explored some of them. I was soon saluted by a 

 number of bronzed grackles, and presently came upon a num- 

 ber of nests which mostly contained young birds, some, how- 

 ever, only contained two or three fresh eggs. A crow came 

 flying over my head, chased and tormented by a pair of king 

 birds. The king bird is well named, " tyrant fly-catcher," they 

 are very pugnacious during the breeding season, attacking and 

 driving off" birds much larger than themselves whenever they 

 come anywhere near their nests. My first find of importance 

 was a nest and four eggs of the clay-coloured sparrow. The 



