CHAPTER XXI 



MICHIGAN 



Perhaps it is not generally known to average English- 

 men that Michigan State is divided into two separate 

 portions. Michigan proper is the peninsula enclosed by 

 Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie ; but it also includes a 

 second, and much smaller peninsula, wedged between the 

 north of Lake Michigan and the south of Lake Superior. 

 At the time of which I am writing, this last portion con- 

 tained very extensive forests, and possibly still does, for 

 this is not a favourite settling portion of the State, 

 intending settlers preferring to cross over into the British 

 dominions ; for what reason I cannot tell ; but so it is. 

 These forests are as solitary, regarding animal life, as 

 other densely wooded districts in this region of America ; 

 but there are spots, particularly in the swamps near the 

 coasts of the lakes, which abound Avith water-fowl, for the 

 most part of the same species as those described as found 

 in the northern portion of this great lake region. See 

 the account of the Red River Colony, &c. 



I need not repeat my description of those birds here, 

 except when I have something new to say about their 

 habits; but I think there are more small birds in 

 Michigan during summer than in Red River and 

 adjacent parts. I noticed great numbers of ground 

 sparrows, as they arc called here, and swamp sparrows ; 

 and I found many of their nests, including that of the 

 common swamp sparrow. This bird greatly resembles 

 Melospiza georgiana, but I am not quite sure that it is the 

 same bird. A confusing circumstance is that the eggs of 



248 



