Ceophloenus pileatus. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1897. flashing, his whole bearing betokening restless energy, super- May 28. abundant vigor, and a wild untamable spirit. No wonder that (no.4). such a creature retreats or disappears before the advance of the settlements. The primitive forest is as indispensable to his existence as it is to that of the Moose or the Beaver or the Wolf. What dangers can it hold for him? He lives above the reach of four-footed marauders and it would be a bold Hawk or even Eagle that would venture to attack so martial a look- ing fellow, armed as he is, too, with that long, sharp bill. As for the four human creatures sitting in their boats at the foot of his stronghold he was, it must be confessed, a shade doubtful. Evidently he did not quite like our presence so near the nest and thought it well to summon his mate and hold a council of war over the situation. Not that he showed any signs of fear or even timidity. On the contrary he seemed disposed to resent and resist rather than to flee before our invasion. His drum call was especially impressive. It rang out over the whole country and with the same startling emphasis that fire bells have when rung in the dead of night in some quiet village. I half expected to hear it answered from a dozen different directions and to see a horde of big scarlet- crested Woodpeckers come charging down on us. But nothing