274 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



To every rule there are exceptions, so I will give one a 

 very rare one, I believe in reference to black duck. It 

 was the last day of the Indian summer, and consequently 

 that preceding the commencement of winter. The atmos- 

 phere was so wonderfully still, that not a cat's-paw marked 

 the surface of Lake Couchachin, in Upper Canada. In the 

 morning I had crossed to the village of Orillia in a light 

 skiff, with the intention of returning as soon as possible 

 with some provisions required by the laborers employed 

 clearing land. Circumstances delayed me till almost mid- 

 day before I took up my sculls to commence my return 

 journey, and as I had some distance to go, and my craft 

 was light, small, and crank, I took a good survey of the 

 horizon to see that no squalls were brewing. No, not a 

 cloud hung on the horizon, not a breath of wind disturbed 

 the wonderful repose of the scene, and the two islands which 

 formed either side of a strait through which I had to steer 

 stood up exaggerated to double their size from the refrac- 

 tion of the atmosphere. A strong pull and a long pull dis- 

 posed rapidly of space, and about half my journey was ac- 

 complished, when to my surprise I saw about a dozen black 

 duck not twenty yards from my port-oar. I did not have 

 a gun with me, so lost a chance which I should have much 

 liked to avail myself of. From curiosity to learn how near 

 I could possibly get to these generally very timid birds, I 

 altered my course, and actually for ten minutes, if not more, 

 pulled after them, and although I frequently came within a 

 few yards, could not force them to take the wing. To ex- 

 plain this unusual circumstance, I have but one elucidation 

 to offer, viz., that they had just arrived from a long migra- 

 tory journey from the North, and the fatigue they had suf- 

 fered temporarily incapacitated them from flight. 



