THE BLACK-POLL WOOD-WARBLER. 29 



to the view. The remains of a deserted camp of seal-catchers was easily 

 traced from our deck, and as easily could we perceive the innate tendency of 

 man to mischief, in the charred and crumbling ruins of the dwarf-pine forests. 

 But the harbour was so safe and commodious, that, before we left it to find 

 shelter in another, we had cause to be thankful for its friendly protection. 



We were accoutred for the occasion, and, as I have said, instantly made for 

 the shore. Anxious to receive as much information as possible in a given 

 time, we separated. The more active scaled the most difficult heights, and 

 among them was our Captain, Mr. Emery, than whom a more expert seaman 

 and a better man is rarely to be found. Others chose the next most difficult 

 place of ascent; while I and my young friend Dr. Shattuck of Boston, 

 slowly moved along in quest of birds, plants, and other objects. We soon 

 reached a considerable elevation, from which we beheld the broad Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence gathering its gray vapours, as if about to cover itself with a 

 mantle; while now and then our eye was suddenly attracted by the gliding 

 movements of our distant parties, as they slipped down the declivities. In 

 this manner we had surveyed the country for several miles, when the sea-fog 

 began to approach the land so swiftly, that, with the knowledge we all had 

 acquired of the difficulty of proceeding overland when surprised by it, we 

 judged it prudent to return to our vessel. There we compared notes, and 

 made preparations for the morrow. 



One fair morning, while several of us were scrambling through one of the 

 thickets of trees, scarcely waist-high, my youngest son chanced to scare from 

 her nest a female of the Black-poll Warbler. Reader, just fancy how this 

 raised my spirits. I felt as if the enormous expense of our voyage had been 

 refunded. "There," said I, "we are the first white men who have seen 

 such a nest." I peeped into it, saw that it contained four eggs, and observed 

 its little owner looking upon us with anxiety and astonishment. It was 

 placed about three feet from the ground, in the fork of a small branch, close 

 to the main stem of a fir tree. Its diameter internally was two inches, the 

 depth one and a half. Externally it resembled the nest of the White-crown- 

 ed Sparrow, being formed of green and white moss and lichens, intermixed 

 with coarse dried grass; within this was a layer of bent grass, and the lining 

 was of very dark coloured dry moss, looking precisely like horse-hair, ar- 

 ranged in a circular direction with great care. Lastly, there was a thick bed 

 of large soft feathers, some of which were from Ducks, but most of them 

 from the Willow Grouse. 



I must now return to the United States, and trace the progress of our 

 Warbler. It enters Louisiana as early as the middle of February. At this 

 time it is seen gleaning food among the taller branches of the willows, ma- 

 ples, and other trees that overhang the rivers and lakes. Its migrations east- 



Vol. II. 5 



