66 
BULLETIN OF THE NUTT ALL 
panse, irregularly oblong in shape, resembles, as do most of the 
Maine lakes, a gigantic amphitheatre walled in on every side by 
distant mountains, which slope gradually from their base to the 
water’s edge, while the unbroken forest which everywhere clothes 
the surface of the country extends down to the very shore, look- 
ing in the distance like a carpet of variegated green, the lighter 
colors of the foliage of the hard-wood trees contrasting beautifully 
with the sombre darkness of the spruce and fir. Not a single clear- 
ing or other sign of man’s interference occurs in any direction to 
mar the perfect setting of this forest gem. Even the little steamer, 
just disappearing behind a distant point, looks as if born to the 
surroundings, and it requires no great stretch of the imagination to 
fancy her a gigantic water-fowl ready to dive beneath the surface, 
like the loon that has just risen in her wake. But these and simi- 
lar reflections were somewhat abruptly broken by the guide, who, 
having completed the arrangement of the luggage in the boat, com- 
menced paddling vigorously towards the western shore, where was 
to be the scene of our labors. 
At this place the Androscoggin Eiver leaves the lake, and its 
banks being somewhat low at the point of dU)ouchure, the level 
country adjacent for a half-mile or more back is periodically over- 
flowed. The water, kept at a high point by dams on the river 
below, flows back into the forest, and the trees, killed in former 
years by similar inundations, stand in grim array like an army of 
stricken giants. That such a perfect paradise for the Woodpeckers 
had not been neglected was speedily manifest as we entered this 
place, where several species of varying size, from the great Hyloto- 
mus pileatus down to the trim little Downy, were soon observed. 
Most abundant of all, however, was the handsome Sphyrapicus variuSj 
several individuals being almost constantly in sight. Commencing 
our search for nests, we soon found ourselves confused by the very 
abundance of opportunities, for not only was every tree dead and 
rotten, but nearly every one was perforated by a greater or less 
number of Woodpecker’s holes. The method quickly adopted as 
the only practicable one was to paddle about among the trees, and,- 
striking forcibly with an axe all that contained likely looking holes, 
watch for the appearance of the possible occupant. Proceeding in 
this way, multitudes of Swallows {Tachycineta hicolor) and Grakles 
(Quiscahis purpureus) were dislodged, the former occupying deserted 
nests of the smaller Woodpeckers, and the latter natural cavities 
