IX 



THE HALCYON IN CANADA 



rpHE halcyon or kingfisher is a good guide when 

 -^ you go to the woods. He will not insure 

 smooth water or fair weather, but he knows every 

 stream and lake like a book, and will take you to 

 the wildest and most unfrequented places. Follow 

 his rattle and you shall see the source of every trout 

 and salmon stream on the continent. You shall see 

 the Lake of the Woods, and far-off Athabaska and 

 Abhitibbe, and the unknown streams that flow into 

 Hudson's Bay, and many others. His time is the 

 time of the trout, too, namely, from April to Sep- 

 tember. He makes his subterranean nest in the 

 bank of some favorite stream, and then goes on long 

 excursions up and down and over woods and moun- 

 tains to all the waters within reach, always fishing 

 alone, the true angler that he is, his fellow keeping 

 far ahead or behind, or taking the other branch. 

 He loves the sound of a waterfall, and will sit a long 

 time on a dry limb overhanging the pool below it, 

 and, forgetting his occupation, brood upon his own 

 memories and fancies. 



The past season my friend and I took a hint from 

 him, and, when the dog-star began to blaze, set out 



