118 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



relieved me when I went down, was less 

 fortunate. On his first evening he caught 

 sight of the mother skunk as she left her 

 home through a bolt-hole, which was evi- 

 dently the ordinary means of ingress and 

 egress. H. A. saw his opportunity, and 

 proceeded to " stop her out." No earth 

 was ever more carefully closed, but the re- 

 sult was deplorable. The young family was 

 disconsolate for the absence of their dam; 

 the lady on her side was inconsolable, and 

 hung about the place all night, making her- 

 self extremely objectionable. H. A. had a 

 bad time of it, and took out the stopping 

 next morning. Those who have sat in a 

 stuffy church near a lady wearing a skunk 

 stole or muff will be able to form some idea 

 of his discomfort. 



The birds were few, but interesting. As 

 you travelled along the river you constantly 

 came upon a beautiful night heron flapping 

 lazily along the stream. Not infrequently 

 one met with a so-called " fish-hawk " — an 

 osprey of some kind, I think — much inter- 



