THE EAGLE'S BOLDNESS. 



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One " fill " I spent upon the upper waters of the 

 Penobscot River, at one time the headquarters of the 

 lumber region of that district, but as the valuable 

 trees have got culled out, those engaged in that trade 

 have left, and the land has relapsed into an almost 

 primitive condition. Where bush fires have run over 

 the country there immense extents are denuded of 

 timber, but its place is taken by a luxuriant growth 

 of under-bush, favourite haunts of that very game and 

 delicious bird, the wood-grouse {Tetrao umbellus). 

 In the heavy-timbered bottom lands the Canada 

 grouse [letrao Canadensis) are numerous, but too 

 tame to afford good sport for dog and gun. The 

 residents do not appreciate them as articles of food, 

 on account of that flavour which makes the Scotch 

 bird so much appreciated by the gourmet at home, 

 while the swamps and low-lying lands are abundantly 

 provided with what are there designated rabbits, but 

 should be known as hares {Lepus variabilis). The 

 brooks, streams, and lakes swarm with trout and char, 

 so in favourable weather the tyro as well as the adept 

 can have no difficulty in filling \^\s creel. Under these 

 circumstances it cannot be wondered at that otters 

 and minks are far from scarce. One of my chief 

 pleasures was to float upon the bosom of some of 

 these silent sheets of water, with a rod on either side 

 of me, and a rifle and shot gun at my knees on the 

 bed of cedar boughs that covered the flooring of the 

 canoe, for at the time I write of elk and reindeer 



