502 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



every movement is watched with solicitude by the anxious 

 and devoted parents. 



Never shall I forget the incidents of one of my night ex- 

 cursions on Metalic Pond, a sheet o£ water a mile or so in 

 length, situated in the Maine woods about three miles from 

 the Rangeley Lakes. On this occasion I saw at least a 

 dozen families of the Summer Duck, together with the 

 Black Duck, and others that breed in that retired locality. 

 At about ten o'clock we lighted the " Jack " lantern, and 

 fixing it to a staff in the bow of the skiff we embarked, I 

 seated in the bow just behind the lantern and my guide in 

 the stern. 



No tongue can describe, no pen can picture the wildness, 

 the weird beauty of the scenes that followed. The skiff 

 moved noiselessly, keeping about three rods from the shore ; 

 not a sound was made by the paddle, not a ripple announced 

 our presence ; we floated as silently and as smoothly as does 

 the falling feather drop through the air. 



The strong light of the lantern, aided and increased by 

 the powerful reflector behind it, was thrown upon the foli- 

 age of the bushes and trees upon the shore. The path of 

 light thus thrown was only about ten feet in width, and on 

 either side of it, as well as around and behind us, all was of 

 the densest darkness. 



The foliage thus illuminated seemed to be of silvery white- 

 ness, and every leaf, every twig, stood out as distinctly and 

 beautifully as if painted in white upon a black background. 



The scene was the most weird and fairy-like I ever wit- 

 nessed. 



Onward we floated, nothing whatever indicating that we 

 were in motion save the progress of the belt of light upon 

 the foliage. 



Sometimes an inquisitive muskrat would swim alongside 

 us, keeping just within the belt of light. Occasionally would 

 we hear the slap of a beaver's tail upon the water, and often 

 would we pass among a flock of wild Ducks that were swim- 



