Grand Island in the golden days of September!

Rocky crags, which a few months later will stand as an invincible breastwork against the attacks of an arctic sea, now smile in the sunlight of an early northern fall, their colors heightened by crystal waters which ooze from their crevices, or fall from their crests like bridal veils. Even here persistent nature finds food in every earth pocket of a projecting ledge for a struggling growth, which in many cases seems orchid-like, so little earth is there for its support.

Inland, broad stretches of a rich, alluvial soil support a hardwood forest of imposing grandeur, while sloping to the south end of the island, the white birch with its brilliant green, makes strong contrast with the stately spires of the somber conifers.

The mecca of animal life on the island is the beautiful lake in its center. Here the wild duck brings out her brood of downy midgets, to chase the water beetles, and wax strong until their growing pinions shall take them to southern waters while their birthplace is clasped in the embrace of a northern winter. Here the loon delights to sound his un'canny note far into the night. The family of beavers, provident against a coming winter, are ever busy with their umbering operations. The felling of trees, the skidding to the water, the rafting, the building of camp, and the storage of supplies which must be completed during the busy season. Of all the animals which inhabit the north country, these are the most interesting.

The instinct of the fishes to select spawning grounds best suited to the development of the egg, the ingenuity of the birds which select appropriate sticks. that they weave together with moss and the tenacious fiber of bark to form a framework which they line with horse hair and bits of wool, and finally create

the finished nest, are matters of interest to the naturalist; but mysterious as they seem, he is satisfied with the one explanation of instinct seeking to perpetuate the species.

In the case of the beaver, the same instinct furnishes the motive, but to carry out the plan calls for a much higher standard of mental caliber, which we must accord a place in the realm of intelligence. The promoters of a new colony constitute themselves into a corps. of engineers. Thoroughly organized, and with a plan definite to inspire their human rivals, they cruise the country for every feature of its topography which might have a bearing on their hydraulic scheme. Once satisfied that the conditions are favorable to a uniform and constant supply of water, they then make their preliminary survey and finally adopt a location.

This step has not been taken without careful consideration. The requisites of such a site are many, and all important. The banks of the stream must be bold, in order that a sufficient depth of headwater may be obtained to permit them, even in the coldest weather, to emerge from their venetian houses and willow sticks which were anchored at the bottom of the pond during the summer months, to supply the luscious bark which forms their winter diet. The up-country will be overflowed by the building of the dam and the raising of the water, and there must be no place where a by-pass of water will defeat them from obtaining the desired head. The bottom of the stream must be sounded to make sure that no dangerous quicksands exist, which might cause the destruction of the structure that will represent so much skill and labor.

It will be necessary, however, that loose sand in quantities can be obtained for the banking of the submerged mudsills and the riprap which is to form the

struction to the stream and permit the work which follows to proceed in comparatively dead water. So far, so good. The up-country must furnish their favorite food in quantities so that the permanence of the colony is assured.

Assuming that no vital principle of hydraulic engineering has been overlooked by the patriarchs of the band, a council of the elders must pass on the all-important question as to whether the site which seems to possess so many important advantages, is sufficiently moved from the haunts of their dreaded enemy-man. This fact established, the work proceeds with industry and is hastened to completion, and the food supply and the houses are made ready for the colony to go into winter quarters.

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Who shall say if, in the development of this plant, one member has been the architect, another the manager, one the foreman, and others the artisans; or whether each possesses qualities of like degree, and all are prompted to work to

the early evening and romp to their hearts' content. These frolics seem to be the sole expression of playfulness in the daily life of the elk at this fall season, the balance of their time being given up to vegetating pure and simple. The antlers of the bucks when in velvet, means that the tremendous growth must take place in a period of about ten weeks, and they are covered with an elastic membrane bearing a fuzzy surface. This growth seems to be supplied with a complete circulatory system for its nourishment.

Later a calcarious deposit fills its cells. -an ossification of the parts, so to speak the circulation becomes sluggish as hardening process progresses, and finally the animal experiences an itching sensation and a desire to rub the velvety covering. At this stage it is not uncommon to see the antlers streaming with tatters of the disappearing velvet, and the horns. stained with the last traces of the blood Wi... lately coursed through its arteries.

The favorite rubbing posts are small upland cedars, springy enough to yield to a gentle pressure, and whose fibrous bark acts as buffing to polish the antler. Trees of this class are met with frequently in the elk and deer country, as every woodsman knows.

By the time of early frosts, when the rutting season begins, the antlers have lost all sense of feeling and constitute formidable weapons of attack. So it is that the bucks refrain from violent contact, and, like their human namesakes, give themselves up to innocent pastime at the season when there are no vital questions to be settled in the body politic. In passing, it may be said that the annual shedding of the antlers in March and their renewal in summer, is common to the moose, all varieties of deer and cari

oblivious for the time being of their domestic obligations.

The native deer also make an evening pilgrimage to the lake, but this with them is a more serious business, for the governing instinct of their lives is protection against the attack of wolves, and, if possible, they will approach the lake from the windward side so that sound or scent of danger will be carried to them from the land. Even then they file down the well-beaten trails to the water's edge with great caution, ever hanging back for a sign of danger. So little are they accustomed to expect danber from the water, that frequently they may be quite nearly approached with a boat, and in this way some of the best photographs of wild life have been obtained. Like the elk, they do not bring

the wanton slaughter that is going on at all seasons, and by all known methods of destruction, throughout the North country..

To those who take pleasure in the study of animal life, the island offers a field of ever-increasing interest. Nearly all of the specimens which have been placed on the island have listened to "the call of the wild," and are following out their natural destiny as truly as if they had never been captured. While it would not be sportsmanlike to shoot one of these animals because their haunts are well known, the sensation of discovery, and the interest of studying their habits is just as keen as was that of President Roosevelt when he watched for hours the animal life in far away Montana. With such opportunities in easy reach, why is it that so few break away from the tedium of a town, and do not avail themselves of the delights of this wonderland?

Only recently the writer landed at the south end of the island, which is the scene of many a romantic legend, some of which must be accorded a place in history. It was Sunday, and early at that, for a consuming desire had possessed him for many a day to make this cruise without the disturbing element of a noisy party, and it was necessary in order to cover the twenty-odd miles of travel that an early start should be made. The day was perfect, clear and just cool enough to make tramping a pleasure. Equipped only with a light lunch, the inevitable smoking tobacco and pipe, a camera and a Marble's safety ax, I struck out for the cliffs on the eastern shore.

Here the traveling is difficult, if not laborious, as the surface is deeply serrated with numerous canons, many of which form the bed of sparkling streams which at intervals leap into gurgling pools, or shimmer in a frothy foam over the rocky chasms. Not more than a mile an hour was made over this country, and at 10 o'clock your voyager was dead willing to halt beside a little waterfall, build a cruiser's fire to broil the fragrant bacon and enjoy a comfortable pipe.

Leaving the shore, and striking inland, an old blaze was found which bore to

the northwest. This was followed for a distance of about six miles, through as fine a hardwood tract as is to be found in all this country.

Elk, moose and deer signs were numerous, but none of these animals were seen, as they were taking their midday siesta on the soft moss beds in the region of the inland lake. The old blaze led, as had been expected, to the extreme northwest corner of the island, where is located what is known as the North Light. This location has its history extending back to 1856. "But that is another story."

Soon after leaving the Light, and bearing in a southwesterly direction, two magnificent cow elk gave me a decided shock, and the desire to secure a snapshot of them was as keen as I have ever felt for a shot with the gun. At the snap of the camera they whirled with a snort and disappeared in thick cover. Reaching the road makers' camp, I found that "Jimmy" was entertaining the workmen with his antics. "Jimmy" is a yearling moose, one of a herd of eight which were placed on the island a year ago and came through the winter in fine shape without assistance.

Nearly all of the others are satisfied with the bountiful supply of natural food to be found in the remote portions of the preserve, but "Jimmy" has formed tastes, through contact with human associates, which can only be satisfied by large portions of buckwheat cakes and doughnuts. His ugliness is only exceeded by his impudence. Only recently he had the temerity to kick his benefactor, the cook. His mate, "Fanny," is of milder mein, and while she is an incorrigible thief and evinces a decided fondness for pie, she never has been known to kick the cook.

Not many hours of daylight remained, and while "Jimmy" had not exhausted his repertory of pranks, I felt obliged to leave him and push southward to take in the lake and keep my engagement with the boatman. Falling in with a friend, at the fishing grounds, we went to the lake, drew the skiff from its hiding place and embarked on the smooth surface. The evening sun made long shadows on the western shore, where we paddled quietly toward a favorite resort