AMERICAN HARBOR, OR NATASHQUAN 



* 



Montagnais Indians. In Audubon's time the 

 post was situated on the eastern side of the 

 river and Audubon went there by boat. Car- 

 tier found Indians here in 1534. 



We crossed the bridge recently completed 

 over the mouth of the Little Natashquan River, 

 and separated in the woods beyond, agreeing 

 to meet for dinner on the beach about a mile 

 from the post. Mosquitoes and flies, which at 

 . Piashte Bay were just beginning to come into 

 their own, were now out in force and fully 

 'up to concert pitch. I am inclined to think 

 that one is fortunate in entering a black-fly 

 country in this manner before the vicious crea- 

 tures reach their full powers, for the feeble 

 bites early in the season are sufficient to pro- 

 duce enough resistance to the poison so that 

 later the swelling that ensues is not severe. It 

 is a sort of prophylactic inoculation. 



For both of us this was an interesting walk. 

 The wonderful flutelike song of the fox spar- 

 row was ringing in our ears. It is a splendid 

 song, that of a well-trained performer who is 

 contented with his powers and does not try 

 to vary his theme. It lacks, however, the feel- 

 ing of the simple song of the white-throated 



47 



