132 Field and Forest Rambles. 



inasmuch as it has a second brood in spring. I have here 

 referred to the Canada lynx capturing trout like the mink and 

 fisher cat, and elsewhere of rooks and jackdaws taking to 

 aquatic habits, and fishing like gulls.* 



I am informed by the gentleman just quoted that he has 

 repeatedly seen the Canada jay capturing trout in brooks 

 after the manner of kingfishers ; and, knowing its crafty and 

 familiar ways, I can well suppose such an occurrence; never- 

 theless, it is difficult to imagine that a bird not constructed 

 for such a mode of obtaining subsistence should take to the 

 not easily acquired habits of divers. 



The true thrushes of this portion of the continent com- 

 prehend four species, of which the well-known ROBIN or 

 Migratory Thrush is by far the most common. None 

 can be said to be resident ; but even during the very severe 

 winter of 1867-68 many robins managed to brave the cold, 

 and survive until spring, by feeding on native berries and 

 whatever subsistence they could obtain in and around the 

 settlements and towns. It is a common assertion that an 

 unusual show of fruits presages a severe winter ; and certainly, 

 as far as the one in question was concerned, I observed re- 

 markable returns of autumn berries and garden fruits, such 

 as the choke cherry, mountain ash, elder, and the like. At 

 best, however, any of the thrush family must have a hard 

 struggle for existence during a New Brunswick winter ; and 

 most probably a large proportion of the loiterers perish be- 

 fore spring, just as I shall show is not unfrequently the 

 case with resident and winter animals, besides such as arrive 

 too soon, or delay their autumn migrations. 



The same sometimes obtains in our own country with re- 

 ference to fieldfares and redwings. I well recollect during 

 the memorable winter of 1837 seeing in the north of Scotland 

 numbers of the dead bodies of these birds under hedges 



■H- " 



Wanderings," p. 45 ; " Natural History and Archaeology of Egypt 

 and the Maltese Islands," p. 33. 



