226 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



of a troutiiiff cruise aloim shore. The former seldom 

 venture from land (even on the forest lake they leave 

 the canoe or raft at a few yards' distance from the shore) 

 and, if the west wind be propitious, the cold damp 

 "I fog is driven away to the north-east, following the 



;| coast line, several miles out to sea. 



f: Nothing can exceed the beauty of scenery in some of 



;:: the Atlantic harbours of Nova Scotia ; their innumer- 



' able islands and heavily- wooded shores fringed with the 



golden kelp, the wild undulating hills of maple rising 



, in the background, the patches of meadow, and the 



'■ neat little white shanties of the fishermen's clearings, are 



": the prettiest and most common details of such j)ictures, 



.•' w^hich never fade from the memory of the lover of 



,;> nature. How easily are recalled to remembrance the 



fresh clear summer mornings enjoyed on the water; 



the fir woods of the western shores bathed in the 



morning sunbeams, the perfect reflections of the islands 



and of the little fishing schooners, the wreaths of blue 



smoke rising from their cabin stoves, and rendered 



distinct by the dark fir woods behind, and the 



roar of the distant rapids, where the river joins the 



; harbour, borne in cadence on the ear, mingled with the 



■ cheerful sounds of awakening life from the clearings. 



1 o o 



j; The bald-healed eagles (H. leucocephalus) sail majes- 



_c tically through the air, conspicuous when seen against 



t 



"I the line of woods by their snow-white necks and tails. 



The graceful little tern (Sterna hirundo) is incessantly 

 occupied, circling over the harbour, shrilly screaming, 

 ;. and ever and anon dashing down upon the water to 



'2 clutch the small fry ; whilst the common kingfisher, as 



J abundant by the sea-shore as in the interior, thinking 



;•"'■ 



?! 

 w 



