Iri- 



31G FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



titmice or gold-crests, sporting amongst the foliage, dis- 

 lodge u shower of S2)arkling crystals — 



" Myriads of f,'eins tliiit in tlie waving gleam 

 Guy-twiuklt! as they scatter," 



when the disencumbered Loiio-h flies back to its original 

 position. The faintest sound finds an echo amongst the 

 stems of the forest trees ; the chopjjing of an axe is 

 borne through the still rarified air for many a mile. 

 Bii'd-life is in full activity. The Corvidte, the raven, 

 crow, blue-jay, and moose-bird are hunting round for 

 their morning meal of carrion. The grosbeaks and 

 crossbills, busily engaged on the fir-cones, frequently 

 rest to deliver their low but melodious song from the 

 topmost sprays of the pines. The taps of the wood- 

 peckers resound from the hard surftice of barked trees, 

 and the sharp, wrathful chirrup of the common red 

 squirrel (Sciurus Hudsonius) is heard in every direction. 

 The very flight of birds may be heard at a considerable 

 distance, as may also the scratching of a squirrel against 

 the bark as he races up a trunk some two hundred yards 

 away, or the shuffling of the porcupine in the top 

 branches of a hemlock, his favourite retreat on a fine 

 Avinter's day. 



Short-lived, however, are such pleasant breaks in the 

 winter weather. The short day, commencing so bril- 

 liantly, more frequently closes with a prevailing leaden 

 gloom portending more snow, or, if near the sea-coast, a 

 fierce southerly gale and rain. 



In a damp atmosphere, or with gentle rain, the stratum 

 of air nearest the ground being of a temperatm-e below 

 freezing point, every spray in the forest becomes coated 



