a direction for one of the garrisons, which being observed by the soldiers, a cannon was loaded with grapeshot, and when the pigeons came within range, the contents were discharged amongst them, and made very great slaughter: hundreds of them fell into the lake, and furnished plentiful picking for their pursuers, who pulled off in their boats from the shore to gather them. In size and colour, those birds bear a close resemblance to those in England. On their arrival in the interior of the country, they separate into flocks, and take up their abode in the trees of the forests; and during their few week's residence amongst us, they afforded excellent diversion for the sportsman.

The principal bird belonging to the game tribe, is the pheasant or partridge, which is a bird of a mongrel appearance, resembling both these English birds in plumage and habits; some are less, being of the size of the small hen pheasant, with a fine spotted breast. It is a very stupid bird, frequenting low bushes, adjoining swamps, and is readily approached and shot.

A bird, called Whip-poor-will, is called the Canadian cuckoo. It receives its name from the very distinct manner in which it pronounces the words. Those birds sing their plaintive notes during the greater part of the night.

BOB WHITE.

A bird called Bob White, of the quail species, resembling much the British partridge in habits and plumage. It distinguishes itself in Canada by its peculiar knowledge of the changes in the elementary system. This rare bird is deemed ominous, and may be heard to call "bob-white," as distinctly as the words could be pronounced by a human being. When its voice is heard, it is observed as a sure precursor of rain.

FIRE FLIES.

Insects, called fire flies, are numerous in some parts of Canada. Myriads of those little brilliant phosphoric insects may be seen in the summer evenings, fluttering about in the bushes, and the light they produce is almost incredible. They are small in size, and of a darkish colour, and are most numerous in the lower grounds. The region they inhabit is quite illuminated.

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Those marvellous insects, according to tradition, were originally a race of beldames, who peopled those parts long before the memory of man, being of that abominated race called brimstones, and who, for their innumerable sins against the children of men, and to furnish an awful warning to the beauteous sex, were doomed to infest the earth in the shape of terrible little bugs, enduring the internal torment of that fire which

they formerly carried in their hearts, and breathed forth in their words, but now are sentenced to bear about for ever in their tails-from whence their light proceeds."

AMERICAN WASP.

A small winged insect, which in some respects resembles the English wasp, engaged my attention, as being a wonderful little creature, having two distinct bodies, nearly equal in size, but furnished only with one pair of wings. The bodies are united together at the ends, by a very small substance, at the distance of half-an-inch apart from each other. Those insects, although small in size, deserve to be noticed as great curiosities, being unlike anything naturally produced in the old country.

AMERICAN BULL FROGS.

Those reptiles may be considered ugly creatures; greatly resembling in size and symmetry a moderatesized tea-kettle. In communicating with each other at a distance, the full force of their stentorian lungs is brought into action: their language is one of a peculiar description,-frequently answering each other with an exact number of sounds, which I have often times noticed.

The first time my ears were saluted with the sound of those reptiles, I was walking along by the side of a small river, which was partly covered with brush-wood, when I suddenly became alarmed by a noise, which issued from something concealed in the bush ;-no stranger can ever mistake the bull frog, after once having heard its tremendous bellow. I stood for a time quite motionless, like a statue, with surprise. Recovering, I seized hold of a weapon, which was fortunately within my reach, and began to retreat; keeping my eyes steadfastly fixed on the spot from whence the sound proceeded. At length I took to my heels, in breathless haste. After running for a considerable distance, I discovered a man seated by the water-side, sheltered from the burning rays of the sun, to whom I related my fearful tale. Just at that moment the singular sound that had so alarmed me was repeated, at a short distance from us; and the person relieved my agitation, by informing me that the sound proceeded from a harmless reptile called a bull frog. On my return to the Inn, and relating the singular event, the risible muscles of the company were excited to such a degree, as to draw forth peals of laughter; and I became the involuntary object of their mirth.

AMERICAN TREE TOAD.

This reptile is considered a great natural curiosity

in this country: indeed, it is, in many respects, one of the most amusing and remarkable creatures in the province. Its feet have claws, like a bird, and the body exhibits a variety of figures and colours. In other respects, it resembles in appearance the common toad. The country, in some parts, seems alive with the pleasing notes of these little choristers, sounding forth a variety of musical chords, and piping their merry glees in tuneful harmony. In delivering the sounds, the vibrations closely resemble the shrill whistle of a sportsman's whip; which sound they will continue to utter for the space of ten minutes, without intermission, and may be heard at the distance of half-a-mile. On an evening, when a number of them are together, the harmony they produce is quite melodious, and has entitled them to the distinction of the Canadian band. Those little creatures are seldom seen, and have, like the chamelion, the peculiar property of changing colour to correspond with the bark of various trees, which they can ascend with great facility.

JOURNEY TO AN INDIAN VILLAGE.

Native Indians of the Mohawk tribe hold extensive possessions of land at Port Credit, where a village has been built for them, by the British government, pleasantly situated on the bank of the river Credit, a few miles north of Lake Ontario, and twenty-five miles