MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 
355 
instance, which avoids Louisiana, and yet passes farther to the 
southward every autumn. Other cases of the same kind miglit be 
named. A well-authenticated story is also told by Mr. Wilson 
of a wild goose which had been tamed on Long Island, but the 
following spring flew away to join a passing flock on its way to 
the northward. The succeeding autumn, as the farmer was stand- 
ing in his barn-yard, he observed a flock of wild geese on the 
wing ; one of these left the flock and alighted near him, proving 
to be his old pet. Now, the party which the goose joined was 
probably the same as that with which she returned, and here 
they were passing directly over the same farm, going and coming. 
The flocks that pass over our own little lake note it, perhaps, 
as the last in the long line of inland waters, the thousand lakes 
of all sizes passed on their way from the arctic seas. There is no 
sheet of fresh water of any size to the southward and eastward of 
our own. Possibly, the celebrated canvas-backs pass us every 
year on their way to the Chesapeake, for the mouth of our own 
river is favorite ground with those celebrated birds. Very few of 
the canvas-backs remain in this State ; only a very small num- 
ber are seen occasionally in the Hudson. 
Saturday, 28tk. — The woods are fading fast, losing their leaves 
rapidly. Here and there, however, we yet see a birch or aspen, 
perhaps on the lake shore, perhaps on the mountain-side, still 
vividly yellow. Seen thus amid the dull and dreary Avoods, they 
look like forgotten torches, burning among the wrecks of past 
revels. 
Monday, dOth. — Mild, gray day; air soft and spring-hke. 
Toward evening walked to the glen, along the Green Brook. Met 
