42 NATURE IN ACADIE. 



and flanks. I met with the first party of four or five 

 of these interesting birds among the rocky woods near 

 Melville Island, and followed them back into the woods 

 for some distance, while during the remainder of my 

 ramble I several times came upon a few of these birds — 

 always in the most secluded and dense woods of fir and 

 hemlock, and generally in a spot where rocks or boulders 

 appeared. Although of such shy and retiring habits, 

 they seemed rather unsuspicious, and allowed a some- 

 what near approach unless alarmed. I often saw one 

 upon the moss-covered boulders, apparently seeking for 

 insects or their pupae, while I sometimes approached 

 quite close to them when perched in the trees, and I 

 noticed that they always settled low down on a dead 

 branch or bough, against the trunk, where they sat 

 so motionless that they might be easily passed un- 

 noticed. The only note I heard these birds utter, and 

 one which seemed common to both sexes, was a low 

 and somewhat plaintive whistle. 



In the fields nearer the town I several times noticed 

 the familiar chipping sparrow. This sober little bird 

 usually sang from the topmost spray of a bush, the 

 song being a weak, but not unpleasing, little trill. 



The following day (April 3) was cloudy in the morn- 

 ing, but cleared up before noon, and was very fine 

 and warm the rest of the day. I walked over to the 

 Bedford Basin in the morning, and from thence round 

 to the North- West Arm, the walk being thoroughly 

 enjoyable, although not much of interest was to be 

 observed on the way. In the woods by Melville Island 

 I came across some newly arrived " robins " or migra- 

 tory thrushes, and also observed a pair of the prettily- 

 marked pine-creeping warblers upon the trunk of a 

 huge pine, while in the trees and bushes close by were 

 a few " yellow-rumped " or myrtle warblers, this species 

 being about the earliest to arrive of the many warblers 

 which visit the province. They mostly frequented the 

 bushes or small trees, and often uttered a simple, 

 pleasing warble. 



I heard a chickadee here uttering a note or song 



