390 AUDUBON 



son, received us with remarkable kindness. Tiie next 

 day was spent in a long though fruitless ornithological 

 excursion, for although we were accompanied by officers 

 and men from the garrison, not a bird did any of our party 

 procure that was of any use to us. We remained a few 

 days, however, after which, hiring a cart, two horses, and 

 a driver, we proceeded in the direction of Bangor. 



Houlton is a neat village, consisting of some fifty 

 houses. The fort is well situated, and commands a fine 

 view of Mars' Hill, which is about thirteen miles distant. 

 A custom-house has been erected here, the place being 

 on the boundary line of the United States and the British 

 Provinces. The road which was cut by the soldiers of this 

 garrison, from Bangor to Houlton, through the forests, is 

 at this moment a fine turnpike, of great breadth, almost 

 straight in its whole length, and perhaps the best now in 

 the Union. It was incomplete, however, for some miles, 

 so that our travelling over that portion was slow and dis- 

 agreeable. The rain, which fell in torrents, reduced the 

 newly raised earth to a complete bed of mud, and at one 

 time our horses became so completely mired that, had 

 we not been extricated by two oxen, we must have spent 

 the night near the spot. Jogging along at a very slow 

 pace, we were overtaken by a gay wagoner, who had ex- 

 cellent horses, two of which a little "siller" induced him 

 to join to ours, and we were taken to a tavern, at the 

 "Cross Roads," where we spent the night in comfort. 

 While supper was preparing, I made inquiries respecting 

 birds, quadrupeds, and fishes, and was pleased to hear 

 that many of these animals abounded in the neighborhood. 

 Deer, Bears, Trout, and Grouse were quite plentiful, as 

 was the Great Gray Owl. 



When we resumed our journey next morning Nature 

 displayed all her loveliness, and Autumn with her mel- 

 low tints, her glowing fruits, and her rich fields of com, 

 smiled in placid beauty. Many of the fields had not yet 



