IN THE CATSKILLS 



in which I have observed a song-bird with appar- 

 ently some organic defect in its instrument. The 

 other case was that of a bobolink, which, hover in 

 mid-air and inflate its throat as it might, could only 

 force out a few incoherent notes. But the bird in 

 each case presented this striking contrast to human 

 examples of the kind, that it was apparently just as 

 proud of itself, and just as well satisfied with its 

 performance, as were its more successful rivals. 



After deliberating some time over a pocket com- 

 pass which I carried, we decided upon our course, 

 and held on to the west. The descent was very 

 gradual. Traces of bear and deer were noted at 

 different points, but not a live animal was seen. 



About four o'clock we reached the bank of a 

 stream flowing west. Hail to the Beaverkill ! and 

 we pushed on along its banks. The trout were 

 plenty, and rose quickly to the hook ; but we held 

 on our way, designing to go into camp about six 

 o'clock. Many inviting places, first on one bank, 

 then on the other, made us linger, till finally we 

 reached a smooth, dry place overshadowed by bal- 

 sam and hemlock, where the creek bent around a 

 little flat, which was so entirely to our fancy that we 

 unslung our knapsacks at once. While my com- 

 panions were cutting wood and making other pre- 

 parations for the night, it fell to my lot, as the 

 most successful angler, to provide the trout for sup- 

 per and breakfast. How shall I describe that wild, 

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