ORNITHOLOGICAL EAMBLES. 73 



been wrong in concluding this to be the object of my 



lengthened ramble. Mr. S h 1 had the pleasure 



of finding at home, and I gladly pay a willing tribute 

 to his generous hospitality. I stayed with him until 

 the morning of Monday, and the freshening influences 

 of a private bath-room, added to the various and 

 nameless comforts which a country residence can alone 

 supply, were doubly welcome after the toil and 

 uncertainties of travel. In the course of conversation 

 upon the subject of Canada, my host had reason to 

 refer to his journal, an anecdote from which, though 

 quite irrelevant to my present subject, I requested to 

 be allowed to transcribe ; and, craving forbearance 

 for this digression, present it to my readers for what it 

 is worth : 



" Walking through Watertown, I had the good luck 

 to meet a Canadian judge of my acquaintance, who 

 gave me many curious anecdotes of Watertown and its 

 vicinity in the war of 1812. One of these, having 

 reference to a Mr. Spraggs, a fine-looking old man 

 whom he pointed out as the possessor of considerable 

 property in the town, is remarkable as being somewhat 

 illustrative' of the go-ahead character of the Americans, 

 and of the facility with which they cleverly turn 

 to advantage the apparently most adverse circum- 

 stances. 



" Spraggs and a Mr. Fairbanks had become bound 

 as sureties to the States Government for the safe 



