116 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



of the broad-winged Hawk, were in prominent notice to the 

 busy workers engaged in the maple sugar groves, so general 

 in these districts. On Saturday last, March i6th, very 

 promising beginnings in boiling the pure maple sap were 

 made on the i6th, and again on the i8th of March. 



Although the rather abrupt change from the severe 

 frosts (occurring in the first week of March) to the 

 temperatures of 45 to 55 degrees, just antecedent to the spring 

 equinox, may be followed by a temporary reaction to a cold 

 dip, and perhaps a brief white reclothing of mother earth, 

 there is confidence that the reign of gloomy skies and ice- 

 covered streams has been abrogated, and a more inspiring 

 program of experiences is now ruling the hour. 



The hardihood and heroic habits of the Snow Bunting do 

 not seem to be expressed by that bird's physiognomy. One 

 has thought, on looking at a living specimen when held in 

 the hand, that a plaifitive and appealing plea for sympathy — 

 a sort of infantile and immature helplessness — rays forth from 

 the bird's rather large eyes ; not quite so consistent with the 

 ornithic jollity noticeable when say 500 or more of the species 

 are revelling in hillarious flight, as is their habit, around our 

 clearings during a tempestuous snow- laden gale, just at 

 gloaming hour, on a zero January eve. 



A phenomenon, just as above attempted to be described, 

 convinces one that they maintain a mysterious, ethical 

 relationship to the darksome, sombre inclemency ; and that 

 in most depressing and shuddering hyperborean terror- 

 phantasms, the fountains of hope and of courage, and con- 

 fident optimism, are only temporarily eclipsed. As a winter 

 negation, time is perhaps a necessary counterfoil and recoil 

 to the ecstacys of the Roseate June " Calends." 



The stormy Petrels of the North Atlantic Ocean, in their 

 seemingly " devil may care " flights and careerings around 

 the stern of a storm-stressed sailing ship as " the shades of 

 night are gathering round," present a similar "phantasm" 

 to the gleesome whirlings and swoopings of a white host of 

 Snow Buntings in their pantomime round a dishevelled Can- 

 adian straw stack, just previous to tlje bird's roosting time. 



