SPECKLED TROUT 121 



forgotten. It pleased my eye so, that I would fain 

 linger over them, arranging them in rows and study- 

 ing the various hues and tints. They were of nearly 

 a uniform size, rarely one over ten or under eight 

 inches in length, and it seemed as if the hues of all 

 the precious metals and stones were reflected from 

 their sides. The flesh was deep salmon-color; that 

 of brook trout is generally much lighter. Some 

 hunters and fishers from the valley of the Mill Brook, 

 whom we met here, told us the trout were much 

 larger in the lake, though far less numerous than 

 they used to be. Brook-trout do not grow large till 

 they become scarce. It is only in streams that have 

 been long and much fished that I have caught them 

 as much as sixteen inches in length. 



The " porcupigs " were numerous about the lake, 

 and not at all shy. One night the heat became so 

 intolerable in our oven-shaped bough house that I 

 was obliged to withdraw from under its cover and 

 lie down a little to one side. Just at daybreak, as 

 I lay rolled in my blanket, something awoke me. 

 Lifting up my head, there was a porcupine with hia 

 forepaws on my hips. He was apparently as much 

 surprised as I was ; and to my inquiry as to what he 

 at that moment might be looking for, he did not 

 pause to reply, but, hitting me a slap with his tail 

 which left three or four quills in my blanket, ho 

 scampered ofi" down the hill into the brush. 



Being an observer of the birds, of course every 

 curious incident connected with them fell under my 

 l^otice. Hence, as we stood about our camp-fire ouq 



