The naturalist in Vancouver Island and British Columbia

THOMAS JLUTCOLX
CASEY

LIBRARY
1923

A (.'AMP ON" T II K BO r NT) A ft Y 1. IXE.

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TH

ATURALIST

VANCOUVEE ISLAND AND
BRITISH COLUMBIA.

BY

JOHN KEAST LORD, F.Z.S.

XATCRAUST TO THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION-.

-YX1AKWATEKX (THE CROSSIN'm.

IN TWO VOLUMES— VOL. II.

LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,

PUBLISHER IX ORDJXARY TO HER MAJESTY.

1866.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Californian Ground-squirrel — Burrowing Owl and Green-
Racer Snake — Skunk and its Odour — Return to Vancouver
Island — Keyhole Limpet and Parasite (Lepidonotus Lordi)
— Dentalia or Money-Shell ...... 1

CHAPTER II.

Pigmy or Medicine Owl and Nest — Superstitious Dread of
Indians — Golden- Crest and its Cradle — Ruffed Grouse . 27

CHAPTER III.
The Store-keeper — American Dipper 46

CHAPTER IV.

Nature of Country following the 49th parallel from the Gulf
of Georgia to the Silmilkameen — Giant Trees — Suniass
Prairie and Lake— Northern Swift — White-bellied Swallow
—The Yellow-bird — Barking Crow — North-western Fish
Crow — Hudson's Bay Magpie — Steller's Jay — Country
East of the Cascades — The Osoyoos Lakes — New Musk-
rat — Fiber Osoyoosensis (Lord) — New Spongilla, Spon-
gilla Lordii (Bowerbank) 62

VOL. ii. a

VI CONTENTS OF

CHAPTER V.

PAGE

Rejoin the Commission — Journey to Walla-walla and Back
— Scenery of the Upper Columbia— Old Fort Walla-walla
— Walla- walla Indians — New Walla-walla City — The
Horse-Fair — Indian Mustangs — Curious Custom of the
Sis-ky-ou Indians — The American Garrison — An Ugly
Adventure — Overland trip to Walla- walla — Cedar Spring
and the Shore-larks — Sage Cock, or Cock of the Plains—
Townsand's Ground-squirrel — A difficult March — The
Prairie Hare — Castle and Chimney Rocks — Reach Walla-
walla 82

CHAPTER VI.

The Great Plain of the Columbia — Pond Turtles and their
Nests — The Sage Rabbit — Find curious Stone Implements
—A trade in Flints and Marine productions at some remote
period, and a Skull (vide illustration) unaltered by pres-
sure—Leave Walla-walla — Cross the Snake River —
Pelouse Indians and their Horses — Falls of the Lower
Pelouse — A Disagreeable Intruder— Pleasant to see Trees
again — Sand-flies — Breeze-flies — Clark's Crow — The Spo-
kan River — Walker's Prairie — Parry's Ground-squirrel—
The way the Three Species of Ground-squirrels re-
place each other on the Plain — Parkman's Wren and its
Nest — Nuthatches — The Tits — Dead Man's Prairie-
Arrive at Fort Colville . 99

CHAPTER VII.

The Colville Valley our Headquarters — The white-bellied
Swallow — CliffS wallow — Bank Swallow — Rough-winged
Swallow — Barn Swallow and its strange Nesting-place—
Violet-green Swallow — Western Meadow Lark — Town-
send's Flycatcher — American Ravens — Bullock's Oriole-
Brewer's Blackbird or Western Grackle or Canada Vay—
Whisky Jack — Lesser Redpole — The Lazuli Finch-
Oregon Ground Robin— Grey-crowned Finch . . 137

THE SECOND VOLUME. Vll

CHAPTER VIII.

PAGE

Route to the Summit Camp — Spokan Plains — Fearful De-
struction of Horses — Syniakwateen (or 'The Crossing')—
A Butterfly Assemblage — The Fox-sparrow — Goatsuckers
—The Osprey — Redstart — Louisiana Tanager— Dusky
Grouse — Franklin's Grouse — Ruffed Grouse — Harris's
Woodpecker — Gairdner's Woodpecker — White-headed
Woodpecker - - Three-toed Woodpecker — Log-cock -
Lewis's Woodpecker — A new Cicada (Cicada Occideu-
talis) 156

CHAPTER IX.

From Syniakwateen to the Pack River — From Pack River
to the Kootanie — The Tobacco Plains — Hudson's Bay
Company's Trading-post — The Kootanie Indians — A Koo-
tanie Canoe — The Galton Range and Flathead River—
The Moose Deer — Wapiti or Oregon Elk — Caribou —
Virginian Deer — White-tailed Deer — Black-tailed Deer-
Mule Deer — The Ascent of the Rocky Mountains — Camp
in the Glen — Yellow-haired Porcupine — Say's Striped
Squirrel — Pinus Contorta — Rock Ptarmigan — The Moun-
tain Goat — The Bighorn and Rock- whistler . , .177

CHAPTER X.

Camping — Packing — Provisioning — The Boundary Tour . 197

CHAPTER XI.
Indian Dogs 212

CHAPTER XII.

The Natives, their Customs and Traditions . . . 226

CHAPTER XIII.

Departure from Fort Colville — Vancouver Island Crabs . 262
APPENDIX 289

ILLUSTRATIONS

FOR

THE SECOND VOLUME

A Camp on the Boundary-line . . . frontispiece

Syniakwateen (the Crossing) .... vignette
An Indian Burial-ground .... to face page 103
Indian Lodges . . . . ., „ 255

Vancouver Island Crabs 262

VOL. II.

ERKATA IN VOL II.

Page 23, line 2, for dry read dyed
,, 38, „ 18, for ruts read mountains
„ 105, ,, 1 1, for clifts read cliffs
„ 120, ,, 27, for uuite read quite

„ 141, „ 26, for illustration in vol. i. read frontispiece vol. ii.
„ 186, „ 19, for jaws they read the jaws are
„ 208, „ 10, for lynch, read synch
,, 209, ,, 7, for lynch read synch
„ 223, „ 27, for risy read risky
,, 245, „ 2, for Cowlibz read Cowlitz
,, 250, ,, 15, omit word page after illustration
„ 251, „ 22, * This illustration was unavoidably omitted, not being

ready in time for publication

„ 255, ,, 15, for Symukwateen read Syniakwateen
„ 267, „ 22, for SAYAS read HYAS. The letters N. S. to be
omitted

VANCOUVER ISLAND

AND

BKITISH COLUMBIA.

CHAPTER I.

CALIFORNIAN GROUND-SQUIRREL — BURROWING OWL AND GREEN-
RACER SNAKE — SKUNK AND ITS ODOUR — RETURN TO VANCOU-
VER ISLAND KEYHOLE LIMPET AND PARASITE (LEPIDONOTUS

LORDl) DENTALIA OR MONET- SHELL.

THE CAMP of the Commission is pleasantly
situated in a hollow, rather than a valley, between
rounded hills, perfectly bare of timber, that form,
as it were, a background to the little town at the

' < — >

Dalles. A small stream trickled near the tents,
with only a few gnarled oaks growing on its
banks.

Two animals are seen constantly, and appear
in unusual abundance. One dwells amidst the
rocks, that are piled in vast masses at the foot of
the ravine, where we are camping, and is equally
plentiful along the rocky banks of the Columbia
river to the valley of the Des Chutes, beyond
which, in the direction of Fort Colville, it is never

VOL. II. B

2 THE WOS-KEE.

seen. This is easily accounted for. The Columbia
ground-squirrel (Spermophilus Douglassii) lives
principally on acorns; and the oak ceasing to
flourish beyond the river, it becomes the bound-
ary-line both to the oak and its dependant.

The Indians prize the Wos-kee both for its skin
and carcase, devouring the latter, and sewing the
former into robes. The Wos-kee gets as fat as a
tame rabbit, and hybernates during winter. A shy
active little animal, it is most difficult to obtain,
dashing into the burrows betwixt and under the
rocks on the slightest noise. They occasionally
travel out on the grass-flats some distance from
their retreats, and if frightened, elevate the long
foxlike tail over the back, and in a series of
most astounding bounds, make all speed for
home. In the absence of their favourite acorns,
they devour grass, roots, and the bark from any
shrubs comeatable. The fur is dark-brown, with
very long black hairs scattered through it. The
ears are long, and a whitish circle round the eye
gives the animal a comic expression, a kind of
pantaloon face. Chin and throat a foxy-brown ;
sides yellowish, divided from the darker shade
of the back by a wide stripe ; tail bushy, and quite
as long as the body, which is about eleven
inches.

THE GREEX-KACER. 3

Living near the water, but occasionally wan-
dering amongst the grass, are quantities of bril-
liant green snakes, the green-racer (Basca-
nion vetustus, Baird & Grd.). Not only does
it bask on the grassy banks, or if frightened glide
through the herbage, with arrowlike rapidity,
but climbs trees with the ease and rapidity of a
squirrel. In» pursuit of tree-frogs, its favourite
food, the snakes so nearly resemble green succu-
lent branches, that I have often put my hand on
them when birds' -nesting or seeking for insects.
It always startled me, though I constantly took
them in my hand, as I should a plant or a cater-
pillar, for examination. This snake's general
residence is in the hole of a ground-squirrel,
which is also chosen as a nesting-place by the
western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) .

I dug out several squirrel-holes whilst at this
camp ; in one I found two eggs of the burrowing
owl, the female owl, a racer-snake, and an old
lady-squirrel. The burrowing owl is strictly of
diurnal habits, and feeds principally on crickets,
grasshoppers, large beetles, and Iarva3. I do not
think it ever captures small animals or birds ; a
peaceful harmless bird, with little to boast of in
appearance, voice, or wisdom. Why called Athene
it would be hard to find out. Not by any means

B 2

4 MEPHITIC BOUQUET.

plentiful, pairs of them are seen occasionally
along the entire course of the boundary-line ; but
they are more plentiful southwards, through
Oregon and California.

If on strolling up the stream, in the evening or
early morning, your eyes should fail, the nose at
once discovers that a skunk (Mephitis mephitica)
has been taking a constitutional, and distributing

O i o

a stench that, once inhaled, is not likely to be
forgotten. Mix the very worst mud from the
Thames on a summer-day, at low-water, with
Rimmel's shop, a gasworks, fellmonger's yard,
and knacker's boiling-furnace ; and I will venture
to assert that the odour produced, even if concen-
trated by the subtle power of chemistry, would
be a mild and pleasant perfume, when matched
against that of the skunk.

It is lucky for the trade of the perfumers, that
their skill in essences, has not as yet attained to the
power of concocting a perfume, equal in per-
sistency to that secreted in the oil-glands of this
most disagreeable animal ; if such were the case,
the sale of one small phial would supply an in-
dividual for a lifetime. A handkerchief odorised
with scent so permanent, would defy the combined
powers of soap, soda, and washerwomen to re-
move the mephitic bouquet, as long as the fabric
retained its entirety.

A DISAGREEABLE PRIZE. 5

Often in trapping, a poaching skunk has tried
his thieving propensities on the dainty and
tempting bait tied to a steel trap, cunningly laid
in the run of a sable, and paid the penalty of
his dishonesty by spending a night fast by the
leg. The nose was quite enough to reveal what
the captive was ; the trap, the grass, the shrubs,
the flowers, were all alike redolent of skunk. The
smell met you, borne on the wings of the breeze,
long ere the eye was capable of discerning the
prisoner. Then to kill and extricate him from
the trap was sure to entail a share of the stench, on
gloves and clothes. Again and again I have buried
gloves, trap, and trousers deep in the earth, and let
them remain for weeks — a remedy of no avail :

Bury and wash, or rub as you will,
The scent of the skunk will cling to them still.

My constant companion was the Russian setter,
that had as great a weakness for killing skunks,
as he had for fishing out dead salmon. For days,
nay weeks, after one of these encounters, I could
hardly bear him near me; the sickening foetor
seemed to gain in strength as it exhaled from
the dog, volatilised by the heat of his body.

We had a store near the Fraser River, a kind
of depot for provisions, from which the men
were supplied who were employed in making the

6 MIDNIGHT DISTURBANCE.

boundary-line. In this store our storeman slept
for some time, and, as bedsteads were superfluous
luxuries, he camped on the floor. By some evil
chance, a small colony of skunks obtained an
entrance into the dormitory, and deemed a consti-
tutional trot over the bed an enjoyable luxury.
The skunk, jealous of interruption, if the sleeper
(the victim of skunk incubus), hastily turned,
then, as from a powerful syringe (as I have seen
young ladies squirt scent from small metal bottles
purchased at the Crystal Palace), the offended
little night-walker fired its bottled nuisance over
both the man and his bed. ' Once bit, twice
shy,' says the adage. A light was carefully
concealed behind a package ; a double-barrelled
gun, loaded with No. 5, capped and cocked, was
placed within easy reach, and careful watch and
ward kept. In happy ignorance, in marched the
skunks for their nocturnal lounge, and, in the
dead silence of the night, bang, bang ! goes the
gun, awaking everyone in the camp adjoining.
I heard a Yankee packer, who slept near my tent,
rouse up and exclaim, in nasal anger, 'Waal,
thar's that varmint a fire-huntin' again. I'll be
dog gone if I wouldn't sooner roost in a tree
than camp down war them skunks is a makin'
tracks all the night ; I can smell em har ! '

SKUNK AND ITS ODOUR. 7

Intensely offensive though he be, nevertheless
he is a handsome beast. The predominant
colour is jet-black. A narrow snow-white line
marks the centre of the forehead. Just behind
the ears, from the nape, is a triangular patch of
white, somewhat tinged with yellow. Confluent
with this patch, two narrow lines of white run
parallel to each other, for a few inches ; then
diverge rapidly, and extend along the back to
near the tail, which is long and bushy, like that
of the fox ; but black, with a white tuft at the ex-
treme tip. The length of the mature animal,
from the nose to the root of the tail, is twenty-
one inches.

The oil-glands are situated at the base of the
tail. The animal possesses the power of ejecting
the secretion with great force, and will hit an
enemy at the distance of ten yards. The Indians
and Voyageurs, after dissecting out the glands,
devour the body with great gusto. The dissec-
tion and skinning are always done under water,
in a running stream ; by adopting this plan, the
effluvia is washed away. I have tasted roasted
skunk, but cannot say much in its praise. Its
flavour is decidedly skunky, although the flesh is
delicately white and tender.

The habits of the animal are strictly noc-

8 A POACHER.

turnal, and a more predatory, thievish, treacherous,
bloodthirsty poacher you could not ' skeer up.'
His residence (which is always by the side of
some still pool on the open prairie) consists of a
large hole, dug in horizontally — a task rendered
easy of performance when his powerful digging
claws are brought into operation. Beaten roads
extend from this hole to the water's edge ; and
the entrance to this den is usually strewed with
ducks' feathers, the tips of the wings, the heads,
beaks, and feet, together with bones deftly picked.
Ducks are his favourite birds; but, you ask,
how can he possibly catch them? In this way.
His instinct guides him to reside near the pools
on which water-birds come to sleep and pass the
night. When everything is still and hushed,
and the unsuspecting birds are floating in fancied
security, with their heads tucked under their
wings, then out steals the crafty skunk, and
creeping noiselessly down his roadways, swims,
without the slightest splash, towards the
drowsy birds, dives under the one that suits his
taste, seizes it by the breast, and, spite of all its
flapping, quacking, and struggling, drags the vic-
tim ashore, kills, and eats it. He seldom gets more
than one in the night ; for the other birds take
timely warning, and leave for some safer retreat.

EETURN TO VANCOUVEK ISLAND. 9

I have often wondered for what purpose this
offensive secretion was given to the skunk.
Any book on Natural History will tell you that
it is a protection against all enemies. This I do
not believe. Why given to the skunk and not to
the pine-martin, ermine, or fisher, that live in the
same localities, feed in the same robber-fashion,
and have exactly the same foes ? It is for other
than defensive purposes.

The skunks are principally confined to America,
extending through both halves of the continent,
though a few are found in Mexico and Texas.
They appear to form a connecting link betwixt
the badgers and weazels proper.

Now let us return to Vancouver Island, and
take up the story where I left it, to go mule
hunting.

From amongst the singular group of annelides,
found along the coast of Vancouver Island,
many of which are new species, and will be found
described in the Appendix, I select the most
curious : —

Lepidonotus Lordi (Nov. Spc., Baird.). — This
species is about three inches long, and rather more
than one-third of an inch in diameter at the broadest
part of the body. It tapers gradually from the
head to the tail, which is only two-sixteenths of

10 LEPIDONOTUS LORDI.

an inch broad. The colour is of a light brown,
a broad line of a much darker brown running
along the whole length of the centre of the back.

On the under-surface a groove runs down the
centre of the body throughout its whole length.
The elytra are thirty-five pairs in number, thin,
membranous, and of a light-brown colour. The
two first overlap each other slightly in the
middle, but for the rest of its length, the centre
of the back is uncovered. The antennae are five
in number — the central one short, of much the
same length as the internal ones ; the two ex-
ternal the longest, white, with a bright black
ring round the upper part, but leaving the point
white, which is acute at the apex. The feet are
tolerably stout, and the two divisions are both
furnished with sharp, but curved, pointed bristles.
The superior cirri are white and of a moderate
length, the inferior ones very short.

A good many specimens of this species were
taken, and they were all found nestling under
the shell, and occasionally coiling themselves
under the foot, of the animal of Fissureila
cratitia.

The Keyhole Limpet, I may briefly state for
the benefit of the unlearned in shellfish, is a
gasteropodous mollusc, belonging to the family

THE KEYHOLE LIMPET. 11

FissurellidoB'j its generic name, Fissurella, being
derived from the diminutive of fissura, a slit.
In shape and colour the shell closely resembles
the ordinary limpet (Patella vulgata), so common
on our British coasts ; possessing a like power
of adhering to the rocks, with a tenacity requir-
ing knife and hammer to overcome ; its shape is
conical, the base being occupied by a powerful
muscle, which is not confined entirely within the
shell. It performs the office of legs by its ex-
pansion and contraction, a means by which the
creature moves from place to place on the rocks;
a system of progression you may see for your-
selves, if you watch a garden-snail taking a con-
stitutional over a cabbage. This muscle also
enables it to fix itself at pleasure, aided by an
atmospheric pressure of 15 Ibs. to the square
inch. They browse on seaweed, and are usually
between tide-marks.

At the apex of the shell is a hole, somewhat
oval: hence the name of keyhole. This orifice
is for the escape of the outgoing branchial cur-
rent. There are about 120 species, inhabiting
all parts of the world — India, China, Australia,
and the Pacific at Vancouver Island. When
shell-collecting near Esquimalt Harbour, I fre-
quently picked up empty fissurellas on the beach ;

12 A FAVOURITE HUNTING-GROUND.

but diligent research at dead low-water, in the
rock-pools, failed to discover the living fish ;
neither did the dredge ever bring one up, from
deep or shallow water. The empty house, in
this instance, was less desirable than a bad
tenant, as the mansion without its liege lord was
a useless ruin.

Macauley's Point, a long ridge of rocks
running far out to sea, but bare at low-water,
was a favourite hunting-ground of mine, the snug
little rock-basins generally affording some novelty,
left prisoner by the receding water. An unu-
sually low tide disclosed a ridge of rocks I had
never before seen, an opportunity for explora-
tion not to be neglected. Clinging to the slippery
wrack, and scrambling down a vertical ledge, I
discovered a regular cave, its sides and floor
literally covered with the strangest collection of
marine wonders I had ever gazed on : —

It was a garden still beyond all price;
E'en yet it was a place of paradise.

*

Here, too, were living flowers,

Which, like a bud compacted,

Their purple cups contracted,

Now, in open blossom spread,

Stretched, like green anthers, many a seeking head.

Others, like the broad banana growing,

Raised their long wrinkled leaves of purple hue,

Like streamers wide outflowing. — Kchama.

SEA-GAKDENS. 13

Actinia spread their treacherous petal-like
arms, gorgeous in every variety of exquisite
colouring : hufre holuthuria, like brilliantlv-

O / O •/

painted cucumbers, clung to the dripping rock ;
starfish of all sizes and tints — chitons in black
spiny mail — shells of purpura and trochus, and
hosts of kindred. Annelides too were peeping
from out their cases of stone and horn, their ex-
quisite feathery tufts, fishing-lines, and traps
wondrously beautiful, but, like the embrace of a
siren, fatal in its clasp ; all these creatures, hungry
and anxious, awaited the coming tide. Biding
his time like the rest in this stronghold was the
Keyhole Limpet.

I had found him at last, and at home, so
pounced upon him as a lawful and legitimate
prize. Knife and hammer soon severed his
close attachment to the rocks ; and turning him
up, to take a peep at his powerful ring of muscle
and strangely-formed breathing apparatus, I spied
a worm evidently very uneasy, about three inches
long, brown, and in shape like an ancient dagger-
blade. He appeared to me to be wriggling out
from betwixt the folds of the foot or the mantle,
and apparently most anxious to escape.

My first impression was, that he was a captive
that by some mischance had got imprisoned

14 A STRANGE TENANT.

under the shell of the fissurella ; and, thanking
his lucky stars for such a fortunate deliverance,
wished to make the best of his liberty, and rejoin
his friends. But in displacing other shells, I
found in nearly every one a similar tenant: the
secret was discovered — the worm was a parasite,
that lived in peace and good-fellowship with the
Keyhole, recalling to my remembrance Oppian's
lines on the pinna and the parasitic crab —

One room contains them, and the partners dwell
Beneath the convex of one sloping shell,
Deep in the watery wastes the comrades rove,
And mutual interest binds their mutual love.

That the parasite worm does no harm is clearly
proved by the healthy state of the mollusc in
whose shell it takes up its abode. How far
mutual interest may conduce to mutual friend-
ship, I am unable to say.

On more carefully examining the position of
the worm, I found it was invariably coiled away
in a semicircle under the foot, like a ribbon on
its edge, never flat. This seems to me a wise
provision; for the pressure of the muscles when
the limpet grips the rock would crush a soft-
bodied worm to death, if flat ; but by being edge
on, which is the position chosen, all risk of harm
is avoided, as it fits in a cleft between two layers
of soft material.

POSSESSION. 15

Tying several of them tightly round to prevent
the worm escaping, I brought them home in situ.
At least four out of every six contained a para-
site, and, what is rather strange, the worms were
nearly all of one size. A query or two naturally
suggest themselves. How did this friend or
intruder, whichever it may be, first get installed
as a lodger? Did he get in as a baby, and thus
become an adopted child ; or did he slip in as a
full-grown aiinelide, defying the Keyhole Limpet
to turn him out ? How does he procure food ; and
on what does he subsist ? I confess utter inability
to give a satisfactory reply : my impression, how-
ever, is, that the parasite grows from a minute
germ (if that is a right term) in the place and
position in which I found it.

I put them in sea- water, after taking them out
of their sanctuary, but in no single instance did
one ever go back again. I tried to replace them,
but could never accomplish it, or induce the worm
to remain. Not that this proves anything, inas-
much as experience teaches that interference
with the regular habits of any of the lower forms
of life is at once resented ; and the power, or will
it may be, to adapt itself to altered circumstances
is but slowly acquired. I cannot conceive the
possibility of a large worm, the feet armed with

16 ' EAISED,' WHERE IT LIVES.

curved bristles, like bundles of minute fishhooks,
being quietly permitted to creep under the shell,
and force its way by crawling round and round the
foot, by a system of hook-and-drag. In no other
way, however, could it edge in, without worrying
and enraging the fissurella beyond all power of
endurance — ordinary pressure being only needed
to squeeze the intruder flat as a pancake. By
gently tickling it with a bit of seaweed under
the shell, one would say that patience was a
virtue but little cultivated by the fissurella ; the
slightest touch, and down goes the shell with a
force that cuts the weed in two like scissors.
What chance would a soft-bodied worm stand?
Not the slightest. The parasite, like Topsy, was
' raised ' where it lives.

What part a worm, doomed, as far as we know,
to pass its whole life captive in the shell of a
mollusc, plays on Nature's wide stage, is a problem
beyond human ken. We know nothing was created
in vain — that even the tiny diatom has its use;
and this insignificant annelide serves a purpose
and fulfils a destiny, in the endless maze of life, as
important as the lordly lion, or even man himself.

It may not be generally known that the Den-
talium, or Money-shell, is used as an article of cur-
rency by the native tribes of North-west America.

THE MONEY-SHELL. 17

A genus of univalve shells, principally worthy
of remark for brilliancy of colouring, and suscep-
tibility of taking a high polish, and usually desig-
nated cowries, has long been used as a medium of
currency. The animal living in the shell is a
gasteropodous mollusc, and the money-shell be-
longs to a species well known in commerce as
the Cyprea moneta, or money cowrie. This shell
is the money, the current coin in use by the
natives of Bengal, Siam, and various parts of
Africa. The grand supply comes from the
African coast, where the shells are collected
by the negresses and exported to various parts
of the world. Just as the cowrie is used in
other parts of the world as money, so the denta-
lium, in North-west America, is applied to a
similar purpose.

The form of the shell, as its name at once
suggests, is tooth-shaped; but the tooth, the
resemblance to which has given rise to the
name, is the long holding or canine tooth of
a carnivorous mammal: the holding-fang of
the dog may be cited as a familiar illustration.
The tenant of the shell belongs to the family
Dentaliada3.

The shell has an orifice at both ends, and the
animal inhabiting it is attached to its calcareous

VOL. n. c

18 HOW AND WHERE THE MONEY-SHELL LIVES.

house near the smaller opening. Eyes it has
none, nor any long tentacles or fishing-arms.
The blood is red, sexes united, and the breathing
organs a symmetrical pair.

The food of these molluscs appears to be strictly
of an animal character. Living, as I shall further
on explain, in the sand, they wage war on and
continually devour small bivalves, foraminifera,
or any small marine zoophyte that an unlucky
destiny may chance to wash within reach of these
submarine cannibals.

The habit of the animal is to burrow in the sand,
the small end of the shell being invariably down-
wards, to live in water from four to eight fathoms
in depth, and always to choose a sheltered har-
bour or arm of the sea as its haunt. The large
end of the shell placed close to the surface of the
sand, allows the animal free scope to seize upon
any unsuspicious wanderer that prowls near it.

The dentalium I now more particularly allude
to has been recently described by Dr. Baird, in a
paper read before -the Zoological Society, with
notes on its habits and monetary value, appended
by myself: —

4 Amongst the objects of Natural History and
Ethnology brought from Vancouver Island and
British Columbia by Mr. Lord, is a belt composed

NORTH-WESTERN SPECIES. 19

of numerous specimens of a species of Dentalium
strung together. The species bears an exceed-
ingly close resemblance to that described by
Linnaeus as Dentalium entalis (Entails vulcjaris of
Risso, and of Dr. Gray's " Guide to Mollusca"),
and appears to me, notwithstanding the difference
of habitat, to be undistinguishable from that Euro-
pean species. It has, however, been described
by the late Mr. Nuttall as Dentalium pretiosum ;
and a figure has been given of it by Mr. Sowerby,
in one of his late numbers of the " Thesaurus
Conchy liorum."

' From a careful comparison of the typical
specimens of D. pretiosum, in Mr. Cuming's col-
lection, there can be no doubt of the identity of
that species with the specimens brought by Mr.
Lord from Vancouver Island; those in Mr.
Cuming's collection are said to be from California.

' In examining the old river gravels on the
banks of the Columbia River, alluded to in vol. ii.
along with numerous other articles, such as human
bones, flint instruments, &c., Mr. Lord found a
number of specimens of a species of Dentalium
considerably eroded and worn, which I have
compared with some in Mr. Cuming's collection,
and find identical with the Dentalium striolatum

of Stimpson, from Newfoundland. I strongly

c 2

20 WHERE PROCURED.

suspect that both these species, D. striolatum and
D. pretiosum, are only very slight varieties of the
old Linnaean species, Dentalium entalis (Entalis
vulgaris).

'The habitats of the three species are very
different; but notwithstanding this, in the ab-
sence of distinct specific characters, I should
hesitate very much making distinct species of
them. However that may be, the history of
the specimens brought by Mr. Lord is very
interesting; and these few observations must
be considered only as introductory to the very
instructive notes drawn up by that gentleman, a
perusal of which will prove the best apology for
these brief preliminary remarks.'

The money-shells are procured upon the north
end of Vancouver Island; also in the bays and
inlets along the mainland coast north of latitude
of 49° to Sitka; and is common likewise round
Queen Charlotte's Island. The genus has an
enormous geographical range; and it is, per-
haps, strange that the shells from North-west
America, from California, and those obtained on
our own coast, when placed side by side, scarcely
present any material specific differences.

When a chief dies, of course, according .to the
redskin creed, he will require in the next world —

STRANGE TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTED. 21

the happy hunting-grounds to which he has gone
—all the luxuries and necessaries his good fortune
enabled him to enjoy in this : so it generally
happens that two or three slaves (male and
female), two or three horses, and two or three
dogs are shot, and laid on or in the earth where
rests the remains of the departed ! But I have
always observed that very old slaves, and very
ancient canine and equine quadrupeds, are
deemed by the sorrowing relatives quite good
enough to send on such a hazardous journey
— a wise economy, worthy of a better cause.
These slaves are bought and sold after the
fashion of dogs and horses, and shells of the
dentalium are the sovereigns and shillings used
to pay for them.

Indians are, without an exception, most in-
veterate gamblers. I do not know a single tribe
— and I have seen something of almost every
tribe east and west of the Rocky Mountains —
that have not some curious games of chance.
Along the coast the stakes are usually strings
of shells, and the game played is called met-ala.
It is played with the four incisor-teeth of the
beaver, engraved much after the fashion of our
dice ; but, instead of being thrown from a box,
they are sent broadcast from the hand, on a deer

22 THE GAME OF MET-ALA.

or bearskin spread on the ground. Slaves, dogs,
horses, and even a man's wives, are frequently
lost at this game. There is a beautiful set of
these gambling-teeth in the Ethnographical
Room of the British Museum, as well as strings
of the dentalium, as strung for money, so that
any person who may be curious on the subject
can easily see them.

The intrinsic value of the shell, as an article
of barter, entirely depends upon its length ; and
the question as to whether the shell when pro-
cured shall, figuratively speaking, represent a
sovereign or a shilling, is calculated by the Indians
in this way : — If twenty-five shells placed end to
end measure a fathom or six feet in length, these
twenty-five shells, when strung together side by
side, are called a lii-qua. The squaws string
them very neatly. A small bit of dried sinew,
taken from the suspensory ligament of the rein-
deer (here called the caribou), is passed through
the shell, there being, as I have already said, a
hole at each end. These transverse pieces of
ligament are made securely fast to two lateral or
side-cords, which side-cords are fastened together
at each end ; so that the string of shells, when
complete, is like a ribbon made of holding-teeth.
The string is generally ornamented most ela-

THE HI-QUA. 23

borately with fragments of nacre from the
haliotis shell, and tufts of dry wool taken from
the mountain-goat (Capra americana).

The short, broken, and inferior shells are strung
together in the same manner, but in various
lengths, and represent shillings or pence, as the
string is either long or short, or the shells
defective. All inferior strings, irrespective of
either length or quality, are called kop-kops.
The lii-qua represents the sovereign, the highest
standard of currency, and, as a rule, would pur-
chase one male or two female slaves. The value
of the slave, estimating it by the sum paid in
blankets for a slave at the present day, would be
about 50^. sterling. Forty kop-kops equal a hi-
qua in value, but various small bargains are
made, and small debts paid, with kop-kops, only
just as we pay away shillings, or lesser coin.

Since the Hudson's Bay Company have estab-
lished trading-stations along the coast, at the north
end of Vancouver Island, and on the main rivers
inland, both east and west of the Rocky Mountains,
blankets and beaver-skins have become money,
so to speak, and the medium of exchange. If you
bargain with an Indian in the interior to do any
service, you agree to give him so many skins, either
per diem, or as a fixed price for the work that is

•24 BEAVER THE MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE.

to be done ; but in making this agreement, it is
not understood that the employer must really
pay so many beaver-skins. What is meant is
this — that the Indian gets an order from you on
the trading-post of the Hudson's Bay Company,
for goods equal to the value of the beaver-skins
you contract to pay him.

Every article given in exchange by the
Hudson's Bay Company is calculated according
to the value of beaver-skin, and as beaver may
be either plentiful or scarce (or, in other words,
dear or cheap), so are goods bartered for fur cal-
culated as to value. Bears, foxes, otters, martens,
fishers, and lynxes are respectively worth so many
beaver- skins each, or, beaver being dear, it will
require two marten-skins to equal a beaver.
Then, as a blanket is worth so many beaver-
skins, or as a beaver will pay for so many
charges of powder or strings of beads, the beaver
becomes the standard of value. If you buy a
horse, a dog, a wife, or a salmon, you contract
to pay so many skins. On the seacoast, where
the savage and the paleface have seen much
more of each other, the rate of service is now
generally asked for in blankets, shirts, or the
1 almighty dollar.'

But in early days, ere the red and white men

BEADS, MONET-SHELLS, AND STONE IMPLEMENTS. 25

knew each other, the dentalium was the only
currency in use. It is quite clear, and also a
very curious fact, that the hi-qua and kop-kop
were known and used by the Indians of the
interior at some distant period, although no trace
of their use, or knowledge of the shell, exists
among them at present ; for in digging out some
flint implements, stone beads, and other things
I need not here enumerate, from the drift, I found
numbers of dentaliums and round buttons made
of the Haliotis nacre. The" distance from the
nearest seaboard was about a thousand miles,
and the language spoken by these inland Indians
quite incomprehensible to the Indians on the
coast. But as I have more to say about the
various tribes occupying North-west America, I
shall here only explain the system adopted by
the Indians to capture the money-shells.

An Indian when shell -fishing arms himself
with a long spear, the haft of which is light deal ;
to the end of it is fastened a strip of wood placed
transversely, but driven full of teeth made of
bone ; the whole affair resembles a lono- comb
affixed to the end of a stick with the teeth very
wide apart. A squaw sits in the stern of the
canoe, and paddles it slowly along, whilst the
Indian with the spear stands in the bow. He

26 FISHING FOR MONEY-SHELLS.

stabs this comblike affair into the sand at the
bottom of the water, and after giving two or
three prods draws it up to look at it : if he has been
successful, perhaps four or five money -shells
have been impaled on the teeth of the spear. It
is a very ingenious mode of procuring them, for
it would be quite impracticable either to dredge
or net them out; and they are never, as far
as I know, found between tide-marks.

PIGMY OWL. 27

CHAPTER II.

PIGMY OR MEDICINE OWL AND NEST SUPERSTITIOUS DREAD OF

INDIANS — GOLDEN-CREST AND ITS CRADLE RUFFED GROUSE.

THE PIGMY OWL.

Glaucidium Gnoma, Wagler ; Strix passerinoides, Tern. ;
Strix infuscata, Tern. ; Glaucidium Calif ornicum, Sclater ;
the Medicine or Death Owl of the North-west American
Indians.

THIS rare and beautiful little owl, the smallest
of all the North American species, I shot for the
first time on Vancouver Island. It has also been
obtained, though rarely, in Oregon, Washington
Territory, and California.

The habits of this tiny bird appear little known.
Its diminutive size, shy solitary habits — for it
always hides amongst the thick foliage of the oak
or pine, except when feeding — renders the task of
observing it, or obtaining a specimen, at all times
difficult; hence a few dried skins, from which its
generic and specific characters have been deter-
mined, are the only specimens we possess. How

28 MY HIDING-PLACE.

the recluse lives, where it lives, or what it does,
are secrets.

Early in the spring, whilst collecting the mi-
grant, birds which arrive at Vancouver Island in

o

great numbers and variety of species — some to
remain the summer through, others only to rest
awhile as they journey farther north to their
breeding-grounds — Dame Fortune, fickle though
she generally be, deigned f<3r once to smile, and
afforded me an opportunity to watch the habits
of the Pigmy Owl. Two of these strangers
selected as their home a gnarled and twisted
oak (Quercus garryana}, that grew alone on
an open patch of gravelly ground near a small
lake. Close by this lake were the remains of an
Indian lodge, that had been once used as a fishing-
station, affording me a capital place of conceal-
ment wherein to watch the manners and customs
of these — to the aborigines — potent and much
dreaded spirits.

My camp was not far away, thus enabling me
to reach my hiding-place at the first blush of
morning. No sooner did the rosy light creep
down the valley and spread over the plain, than
the owls were up and stirring — evidently hungry
from a night's fasting; for, like a well-con-
ducted couple, they retired early to rest.

THE TINY OWL'S FAVOURITE FOOD. 29

Their flight — short, quick, and jerking, similar
to that of the sparrowhawk — is quite unlike
the muffled noiseless flap of the night-owl, as it
sails along over marsh and meadow in pur-
suit of mice, lizards, or any benighted rodent
that has incautiously strayed from its place of
safety. The food of this little owl is entirely
insectivorous, its favourite morsel a fat grass-
hopper or field-cricket : not that it by any means
refuses or objects to breakfast on an early riser,
be it beetle or butterfly, that, like the proverbial
worm, is so devoid of prudence as to permit the
' early bird ' to gather it.

When in pursuit of food, the owls perch on a
small branch near the ground, sit bolt upright in
an indolent drowsy manner, until their quick
eye detects an insect moving on the plain ; then
they pounce suddenly upon it, hold it down
with their small but powerful claws, and with
their sharp beaks tear the captive to pieces.
The hard wing-covers and thighs, if a cricket,
or the wing-shields if a beetle, are rejected, only
the soft abdominal parts being eaten. Hunger
satiated, they return to their tree, and, cud-
dling lovingly together, sit and doze away their
time, protected from the blazing rays of the
midday sun by the foliage of the sturdy oak.

30 THE GLOAMING.

Their breakfast disposed of, I used to abandon
my post, and, like the owls, eat and sleep under
some shady covert.

As near as possible to the mergence of twilight
into night — what the Scotch call the ' gloaming,'
and in our country is known as 'cock-light' — when
the woodcock skims through the grove and the
blackbird chink-chinks his vesper hymn — exactly
at this time the owls invariably came out ; and, as
if for the purpose of stretching their wings rather
than feeding, took erratic flights round the tree,
and up and down the plain, chasing one another,
and performing all kinds of inexplicable manoeu-
vres. Occasionally they settled on the ground, but
never remained long. I do not think they ever
capture an insect whilst it is on the wing, and a
very small quantity of food appears to satisfy their
wants. As it became dark, having supplied their
evening necessities, they again returned to their
dormitory, and, as I imagine, slept away the night.

In their habits they appear to have nothing in
common with the typical owls (Strigince\ and
approximate, though slightly, to the day-owls
(Nycteinince). Cassin, in his ' Birds of Califor-
nia,' calls this owl Glaucidium infuscatum, regard-
ing it as the Strix infuscata of Temminck. Dr.
Sclater, however, proposes to call it Glaucidium

THE PIGMY OWL'S NEST. 31

Californicum.* There can be no doubt that the
two names, Strix infuscata and Strix passeri-
noides, were used by Temminck to designate
the same species, which is strictly from South
America, and quite distinct from our little friend,
though closely allied. The name Glaucidium gno-
ma, used by Wagler,! adopt as having precedence.

Its specific characters need not be given here,
being readily obtainable by referring to any of
the list of works quoted in the synonyms. I may
mention, however, that the grand and marked
specific differences, as distinguishing this from
the South American species, are that in G. gnonia
the toes are naked, the colour generally lighter,
and the size somewhat less. Total length of male,
7 inches ; wings, 3^> inches ; tail, 3 inches. The
sexes are very nearly alike, but the female is rather
the larger, and more thickly spotted with white.

Early in May two small eggs were laid —
round, and very rough on the surface — a large
knot-hole in the branch of the oak being selected
as the nesting-place. Not a particle of anything
was used as lining, the eggs being deposited on
the bare wood. The length of time occupied in
incubation I regret inability to state, having to
shift my camp some distance away soon after the
* 'Proceedings Zoological Society,' 1857, page 4.

32 A BIRD BOGEY.

female commenced sitting. When next-I visited
the tree, both young and old were gone, much to
my disgust and annoyance. By the scattered
feathers, that lay ominously beneath the tree, I
imagine a prowling martin or fisher had played
havoc with my pet family, and devoured, perhaps,
both parents and children.

The Indians, without exception, hold this little
owl in terrible dread. To see one in the day, or
to hear its feeble cry, not unlike a stifled scream,
is a fatal omen to brave or squaw ; the hearer or
near relative is sure to die ere the end of the
moon. To kill one is an unpardonable heresy.
I nearly got into very serious trouble for shoot-
ing a specimen of this little owl. An Indian
deputation, headed by their chief, waited on me,
and protested against my risking theirs and my
own inevitable destruction. All reasoning was
futile, and there was nothing for it but to procure
all the mystic birds and mammals by stealth.

It is a curious fact that owls, in every part of
the world, have always been deemed birds of ill-
omen. The crumbling ruins of an ancient
monastery, the old tower in the ivy-clad castle,
and the ghost's chamber in a haunted house, are
invariably associated with owls and goblins.

Pliny, in his ' Natural History,' when speaking

A BIRD OF EVIL. 33

of birds of evil, says : ' The owl is a dismal bird,
and very much dreaded in public auguries ; in-
habits deserts that are not only desolate, but
dreary and inaccessible ; it is a monster of night,
nor does it possess any voice but a groan.'

Virgil alludes to it as foreboding the death of
Dido :

Solaque culminibus ferali carmine bubo
Saepe queri, et longas in fleturn ducere voces.

Shakspeare, too, saddles this poor bird with the
guilt of ominous predictions.

Casca, in alluding to the events preceding
Caesar's death, says :

And yesterday the bird of night did sit,
Even at noonday, upon the marketplace,

Hooting and shrieking.

In Egypt, in bygone years, if the Pacha pre-
sented a gentleman with a drawing or any re-
presentation of an owl, it was meant as a polite
hint, to the recipient of the gift, if he did not
dispose of his own life, the powers supreme would
save him the trouble. More modern poets rarely
scandalise or malign the owl's character. As
knowledge of the physical sciences has become
diffused, so the mists of superstition have
vanished, arid modern writers, even in poetic
composition, truthfully allude to its habits,

VOL. n. D

34 OWLS' POWERFUL ' MEDICINE/

Coleridge, in ' Christabel :'

Tis the middle of the night by the castle clock,
And the owls have awakened the crowing cock.

Again, Longfellow, in ' Hyperion,' speaks of
the owl ' as a monk that chants midnight mass in
the great temple of Nature.'

With every Indian tribe I have ever met with,
either east or west of the Rocky Mountains, the
owls, whether large or small, are always held
sacred — their feathers being worn as charms by
the medicine-men or conjurors of the tribes. It
is perhaps fortunate for the owls they are so
dreaded. There are many Indian traditions I
could relate, where terrible calamities have in-
variably followed the warnings of the Pigmy
Owl, but space forbids.

Why such an exquisite type of Creative Wis-
dom— beautiful in plumage, retiring in habit,
harmless, and gentle — should inspire terror and
aversion, are mysteries I must leave to wiser
heads than mine to solve.

Hardly has the snow left the hillsides and sunny
slopes, and whilst deep patches still linger in the
valleys and shaded spots; when early spring-
flowers peep out, here and there, from some
sheltered spot, and the bursting buds but faintly
reveal the leafy treasures hidden within their'

THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN, 35

horny casings — the sloppy transition state,
when summer has not come, and winter has not
gone — then it is our eyes, and hearts too, are
gladdened by the appearance of flights of birds ;
some passing on, others remaining to build, rear
their fledglings, and enjoy the northern sun-
shine. One of the earliest migrants is the Golden
Crest (Eegulus satrapa.) They are the most
sociable of birds, and evidently are fond of good
society, and plenty of it, until their domestic
duties demand a certain period of seclusion.
Then the tiny faithful couples leave their restless
friends, as their friends also leave each other;
by-and-by to join together again, reinforced
with hosts of Misses and Masters Wren, to in-
dulge in arboreal revels, until the rough autumnal
winds bids them depart for the more genial and
sunnier south.

The Golden Crests are always, except during
the nesting-time, in company with the Tits
and Nuthatches. Flocks, consisting of fifty
or sixty, may be seen, completely making
the round of a prairie, travelling along from
bush to bush ; sometimes ascending into the pine-
trees, at others clinging to the slender stalks
of grass and wild flowers, even their diminutive
forms bending the fragile support to the ground —

D 2

36 A CLEVER ARCHITECT.

ever singing, chattering, quarrelling, but never
resting. It is a pleasant sight to watch this
army of insect-hunters, climbing back down-
Avards, peering curiously into every crack and
crevice under the leaves, and into the flowers.
Concealment is of little avail to the insect ; sharp
eyes spy him out, and sharper beaks nip the
idler, and drag him from his lair. Often a moth,
or other winged insect, takes refuge in flight,
when surprised in his nest; then a host of
nimble pinions dart after the fugitive, and, spite
of twists and turns and angular eiforts to escape,
tit or golden-crest catches him, and, descending
to the ground, himself pursued by his fellow-
hunters, picks off the gay wings and legs of his
prize, then swallows the dainty but limbless morsel.
There are few more skilful architects than
the Golden Crest. The place selected for the
nest is generally at the end of a pine branch,
where, like a cradle, it is rocked by every passing
breeze; but so ingeniously is the nest contrived,
that, rock and swing as it may, neither eggs nor
young can ever be jerked out. The nest is
tightly woven, and composed of twigs, moss,
lichen, fronds of the larch, and dead leaves ; a
structure, when completed, exactly resembling
the branch of the tree to which it is really

THE RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 37

lashed, with ropes of .vegetable fibe. The fronds
of the fir form admirable sunshades, or umbrellas,
as circumstances may require. The inside is lined
with feathers, soft hair, and spiders' web — the web
seems used for the purpose of warping the other
materials tightly together ; a partial dome covers
the top, under which is the entrance-hole. The
circumference of the nest is about nine inches.
Six is. about the usual number of eggs laid.

In the valley of the Columbia the golden-crests
begin building in June, and on Vancouver Island
somewhat earlier. Tits and nuthatches generally
nest in holes, in the same tree the wren selects
for her pendant nursery.

The general colouring of this handsome little
bird is yellowish-olive inclining to green, the
head being crowned with a tuft of bright golden-
orange feathers. Their song, soft and mellow, is
trilled out nervously, like the tremulous notes of
young Lady shaky, 011 her first vocal performance.

A very frequent companion of the Tits is the
Ruby-crowned Wren (Regulus calendula^ some-
what larger than the Golden Crest, of a brighter
green on the back and neck, and more yellow
under the wings. The crown, instead of being
orange, is bright scarlet. I met with it on both
slopes of the Cascades. It resembles the golden-

38 RUFFED GKOUSE.

crest in all its habits, and builds a very similar
nest. The young have no crest until the second
year after leaving the nest. These birds are
rarely seen in the summer during the breeding-
time, as their haunts are seldom accessible to
man.

I have already spoken of the Sumass and Chi-
lukweyuk prairies. Whilst camping there I
had abundant opportunity to watch the habits of
many curious residents in these prairies and their
adjacent forests of pine : —

THE HUFFED GROUSE— OEEGON GROUSE— PAR-
TRIDGE, PHEASANT.

Ptonasa Sabinii, Baird ; Tetrao umbellus, Richardson, F.B.A.

This grouse has an immense geographical
range : west of the Rocky Mountains, from the
borders of California, throughout Oregon and
Washington Territories, extending high up on
the slopes of the Rocky Mountains ; plentiful in
all the timbered land between the Cascades and
Rocky ruts along the banks of the Columbia,
over the ridge of the Cascades, down their western
slopes to the Fraser, on all the islands of the Gulf
of Georgia, and everywhere on Vancouver Island
to its extreme north end, and on the mainland
north to latitude 53°. East of the Rocky Moun-

THE TRYSTING-SPOT. 39

tains, its very near relative, Bonasa umbellus
(Steph.), again ranges through Canada — indeed,
I may fairly say, over the greater part of America.
But what follows applies to Baird's new species,
found only west of the Rocky Mountains.

The habits of this grouse are singularly er-
ratic, and his food is of the most varied cha-
racter. In the spring-time his favourite haunt
is by the side of some stagnant pool, or in the
brush round a marsh where the crab-apple
(Pyrus rivularis} and the black-birch and alder
grow, where fallen timber lies crumbling and
rotting away; where everything mouldy, dark,
damp, and oozy seems to hold high festival;
where flabby fungoid growths spring like huge
ears from moist-decaying wood, and gigantic
agarics sprout up in a night like mammoth fairy
tables; here, too, the skunk cabbage, with its
great green succulent leaves, grows in rank luxu-
riance, covering up the surface of the mud like a
huge mat.

In such spots as these, in the month of April,
the wooing begins. They regularly pair, and
having once exchanged the nuptial promise, are,
I think, most constant to each other during the
nest-building and hatching time. During the
time of pairing, and at intervals after the

40 A DRUMMER WITHOUT A DRUM.

chickens are hatched, the male produces that ex-
traordinary sound called 'drumming.' Again and
ao-ain have I sat and watched the proceeding.

O

There is a solemn quiet — an almost deathlike
silence — pervading these mighty wilds of the far
North- West, unlike anything we can conceive
where the hand of civilisation has been busy. The
bird squats on a log or fallen tree, motionless, as
though it had no life ; suddenly, all the feathers
are, as it were, reversed ; tail erect, like a strut-
tin o- turkey-cock; the ruff round its neck stands
out, stiff and rigid, and the wings droop on either
side of the log as if broken. They slowly vibrate,
and then produce a sound, loud and clear, like
the thrum of a double-bass string; faster and
faster it comes, as the wings move with greater
rapidity, until the beats have no distinctness,
and the sound has become a throbbing hum.
He suddenly ceases, and after a few minutes'
' rest goes through the same performance.

Perhaps the stillness I have referred to induces
one to imagine the sound to be louder than it
really is ; but if one did not see the bird, and did
not know whence the sound came, a fertile brain
could easily imagine it some demon drummer in
active employment. For what purpose this
sound is produced I am by no means clear:

SETTLING THEIE DIFFERENCES. 41

t

whether it is to intimidate the cocks and keep
them off, or whether it is to proclaim his near
proximity to the hen, or whether it is a sexual
performance to demonstrate his love and devo-
tion, are matters that the bird alone can answer.
If he knew how constantly the sound betrayed
him to the crafty savage, I rather think he would
adopt a more silent system. Guided by the
drumming, the redskin creeps like a weasel
through grass and bush upon the unsuspecting
bird, and, sending an arrow whistling through its
ribs, -or half a dozen buck-shot from an old trade -
gun, thus stops his fun, and ' turns his thoughts
from mirth to gravity.'

I have often seen cocks fight furiously during
the pairing season, and their manner of adjusting
their little differences is much after the fashion
of our gamecocks. That old maxim, ' None but
the brave deserve the fair,' is evidently a great
grouse principle. Ruffing up their necks, head
and back almost in a straight line, tail up, legs
stiff, and wings dropped, they circle round and
round each other, striking and pecking until the
vanquished hides anything but his diminished
head, and the victor bolts upon a log and drums
furiously.

The nest is complete about the end of May. It

42 THE MOTHER'S STRATAGEM.

is always placed on the ground under a fallen
log, or at the foot of a bush ; and is composed of
a quantity of dead leaves, lined with dry grass,
bits of moss, and a few feathers. From ten to
fourteen eggs are about the average number I
have found ; in colour, dirty white, without any
spots, or freckles of darker brown. I think I
must have found at least ten nests in one swamp,
near the Spokan prairies, en route to the Rocky
Mountains.

The moment they are clear of the egg, the
chickens leave the nest and follow the mother.
She calls them with a kind of clucking sound
just like a hen, and covers them when resting.
Like most of her tribe, the mother uses all kinds
of feints and stratagems to lure an intruder from
her young. I have seen an old hen ruffed grouse
nutter along close to my feet, as if her legs and
wings were entirely disabled, allowing me to
almost put my hand upon her ; having thus de-
coyed me on and on, until her chickens had time
to conceal themselves, she would dart suddenly
off, I daresay thinking how cleverly she had
'fooled me.' It is a curious thing that this
grouse when frightened rises with a loud rattling
noise, but when it rises of its own free will, it is
as noiseless as the flight of an owl. I have
often, when lying down watching them, seen the

WHITE-FLESHER VERY DELICIOUS. 43

birds rise and fly upon a tree without a sound ;
but only walk up to them,' and a sharp whirring
noise is invariably produced when they flush.
As soon as the chickens can follow, the dark
swamp-brush is abandoned, and the favourite
locality is an open hillside ; especially if a moun-
tain-burn comes brawling down among the rocks,
resting here and there in coy little pools —
drinking-foun tains of Nature's own contriving.
Here too grass-seeds, berries, and insects are in
abundance, and the woolly little chickens feed
right royally.

They never, like the sharp-tailed grouse, pack,
but almost* invariably keep together in broods ;
they love to frequent trails or sandbanks,
where they can dust themselves. They are
bitter enemies to ants : having a weakness for the
eggs, they scrape and scatter to the winds their
little wood-piles, the toil and labour of hundreds
of busy architects, sending the building material
flying far and wide, until the egg-treasury is
reached, and ruthlessly despoiled.

From September to Christmas the ' white-
flesher' (for so he is named) is at his best,
having had the full benefit and advantage of the
berry and nut season ; his flesh is pure white, and
he is most delicious before he begins to. devour
the leaves of the fir ; this he does as soon as the

44 A VERITABLE PERCHER.

snow shuts him off from any other kind of living,
and he then acquires a flavour of turpentine,
which is anything but agreeable, Nice as he
most unquestionably is for the pot, he is not a
bird a sportsman would love. His system is to
perch on the nearest branch ; and so accurately
does the plumage resemble the lichen-covered
bark of the trees, that it is difficult and often
next to impossible to descry him. His habit
when perched, if at all alarmed, is to crouch down
the long way of the branch, the head and neck
extended to the utmost, and the throat pressed
tightly down; when in this position, although
the bird has been close to me, I have been unable
to see him ; and when you have fairly made him
out, it is very difficult to shoot him. ' Shades of
my grandfather !' I hear some gunner say, 'what,
shoot a grouse on a tree !' Again I say, Yes. I
wanted him for the pot, or his skin, or maybe for
both. But, let me tell you, he can fly if he likes,
and I know no grouse more strong or swift on
the wing than the ruffed grouse, when it suits his
humour to go. I have had several spurts of
good shooting with this same white-flesher on the
Sumass and Chilukweyuk prairies, and at other
places west of the Cascade Mountains, on the
banks of the Fraser river.

TREEING A GROUSE. 45

It was in October, and the snow was just be-
ginning to mantle the hilltops in the livery of
the Frost-king, warning bird and beast that it
was time to retire into valley-quarters for winter.
The grouse had come down from the hills, and
were lying in the long prairie-grass, about a rifle-
shot from the edge of the bush. They rose
before my dog singly, and went off to the covert
like a ball. I had No. 5 shot, and I soon found
I could not venture to let them go very far. I
made, however, a very fair bag, finishing off with
some mallard and bald-pates, as I recrossed the
prairie to my camping-ground.

A great qualification in an Indian or trapper's
dog is ' to tree a grouse ;' the dog flushes them,
and the grouse perch at once upon the branches
just above the dog's head, and peer down stu-
pidly at him, craning their long necks to get a
peep at the intruder — thinking, doubtlessly, what
a rare and curious animal it is. The dog, looking
up as the fox did at the crow in the fable, barks
and yaps with all his might ; this induces the
gunner to come and see what it all means, and
he too spies the grouse. If care is used to shoot
the under birds, often three or four may be killed
before the others are sufficiently awake to their
danger to fly off.

46

CHAPTER III.

THE STORE-KEEPER — APLODONTIA LEPORINA AMERICAN DIPPER.

THE STORE-KEEPEE.

(Tamias guadrivittatus.')

ONE of the liveliest, prettiest, merriest, and, to
judge from appearances, the happiest little animal
one meets with in North-western wilds, is a tiny
squirrel, known, and feared by the Indians, who
have a name for it, unpronounceable by any
mouth of ordinary conformation ; and to attempt
writing it is only to give a long list of double and
single letters, the type-pattern for spelling Indian
words. For example, — ch-a-ta la-cli, — what can
you make of that? Corkscrew the word out,
giving it all the throat-sound and tongue-twisting
you can manage, and it has as little resemblance
to the name, as rolled out from the larynx of a
redskin, as the wheeze of a bagpipe has to the
clear, rich, mellow note of the mocking-bird.
To the scientific world my furry friend is

NATURAL HAVEESACKS. 47

known as Tamias (nearly as bad as Indian) ;
tamias being Greek for 'store-keeper,' the generic
title. The specific name tells us that he has four
stripes, or ' ribbons J marking his skin. The
Missouri Striped Squirrel is the familiar appella-
tion of the white settler; the Ogress Squirrel of the
savage — why so named will be shown in the sequel.

The specific characters are, briefly : — Tail quite
as long as the body ; a grey stripe along the top
of the head, joining two others passing below the
eyes; a hoary patch behind the ears; general
colour, deep ferruginous red ; back marked with
four equidistant stripes, nearly black, extending
from the neck to the tail; length four inches,
without the tail. Incisors (cutting-teeth) strong,
and deep orange-colour on the outer surface; on
each side of the mouth is a large pouch, opening
just anterior to the molar teeth, and extending
back to the shoulder.

In these capacious sacks, seeds, bits of favourite
roots, indeed anything either eatable or storeable,
is carried to the 'store-keeper's' residence. The
pouches are filled from the mouth ; the forefeet
being used, much the same as hands, to press the
cargo back, and tightly pack it. When emptying
them, the forefeet are again called into requi-
sition; placed behind the corpulent bags, the

4s THE STOKE-KEEPER'S MANSION.

contents are pressed out by a kneading kind of
movement.

Where a more striking evidence of Divine
wisdom and forethought ! But for these leather
bags, it would be utterly impossible for this little
animal to carry in a store of provisions sufficient
for his winter supply. He does not sleep, like the
' Rock Whistler,' and live on his own fat, but
only partially hybernates; and hence needs a
stock of food, with which he provides himself
during the sunny summer days.

His mansion is usually under a fallen tree, or
amidst the tangled roots of the giant pines. A
small burrow neatly dug, and round as an augur-
hole, leads in a slanting direction to an open ca-
vity, neatly lined with dry leaves, blades of grass,
and moss — a bed soft as eider-down, wherein
the 'store-keeper' sleeps. In an adjoining open-
ing, on a kind of earthen shelf, is his store, neatly
piled away, to be carefully hoarded, until the biting
blasts of winter, sweeping through the forests,
stripping land and tree alike of their verdure, warn
the provident workman to retire into his snug
quarters, not to shiver, cold and hungry, until the
spring-time comes, and bids the flowers ope their
blossoms, and the buds burst into leaf. Not a bit
of it : his industry has provided not only a snug
residence, but food in abundance, to supply his

THE STORE-KEEPER'S HAUNTS. 49

daily necessities — a garrison in which he can defy
wind, rain, frost, and snow, and bide his time
until the Ice-king yields his sceptre to the genial
ruler of the summer.

This squirrel seems to live everywhere. Wan-
der round the margin of the emerald-green
prairie, and there, amidst the hazel, mohonia,
vine-maple, and various shrubs that love the
sunshine, the ' Store-keeper' is sure to be seen,
skipping along on a dead stick, or scudding
through the bushes ; stopping continually to
have a peep at the intruder; sitting bolt up-
right, with its tail erected, defiantly chattering
angrily, in a kind of half-laugh, half-bark; then
uttering a shrill chirp, a danger-signal to others,
then makes for its hole and disappears. Paddle
in a canoe down the surging stream, past the
piles of driftwood, heaped mountains of dead
trees ; and as the frail bark shoots by, you are
certain to see the 'Store-keeper' scampering
from log to log, his scolding and whistling lost in
the noisy rush of the torrent. Dive into the dark
shadow of the pine-forest, where mouldy life
holds high festival — where huge fungoid growths
and giant agarics spring in flabby clusters from
the oozy logs — where the pools, thick and slimy,
are covered with the green fleshy leaves of the

VOL. II. E

50 THE NUESEET.

4 skunk cabbage,' and each branch and spray,
draped with the black lichen (Lichen jubatus),
seem mourning over death and decay on every
side — in these damp solitudes lives the ' Store-
keeper,' merry and quarrelsome, as in brighter
scenes. Climb the mountain-side, and scramble
through the rock-walled ravine, where the pine
clings to the stones rather than grows from
their clefts ; where no murmuring streamlet cools
and refreshes thirsty Nature, or breaks the solemn
silence with its rippling music; and not even
the footfall of the savage disturb its echoes ; and
naught living, save the denizens of the air, that
peep into its weird depths from the tree-tops,
ever visits it : yet in the very loneliest of these
glens the ' Store-keeper' is sure to be met with.
Climb on — higher, higher — to the perpetual snow-
line, marking the boundary betwixt life and icy
desolation; and there too, on the very frontier, he
bounds, and jumps from rock to rock, ever
scolding, laughing, whistling, and toiling, to
garner in his harvest.

Two of them, husband and wife, took up their
abode in an old sawpit, close to our winter-
quarters, at Fort Colville ; and there constructed
a nest, during the month of July, for the mamma
to bring forth and rear her offspring in. I

A QUAINT NEST. 51

carefully watched them from day to day, and,
with the exception of an occasional scolding,
they took little heed of my presence. A hollow
place was first cleared under one of the cross-
timbers of an old sawpit ; then both worked hard,
bringing blades of dried grass, leaves, and moss.
I observed they carefully collected fragments of
rag, and pieces of paper left by the sawyers ; so,
to gratify this taste for the use of novel material,
I brought out continually small bundles, com-
posed of coloured threads, rags, paper, fragments
of scarlet cloth, and small portions of gold and
silver lace from my fishing-tackle stock. All these
were greedily seized on, and woven into the nest,
which, when completed, after about sixteen days'
work, presented the most extraordinary appear-
ance imaginable. Such a nuptial nest no squirrel
ever had before, or, perhaps, will ever have
again. I am sure they were proud of their
achievement, and deemed it a triumph of squirrel
architecture !

The family in due time came into the world;
but any attempt to approach the nest was re-
sented so furiously, yet combined with such
evident terror for the safety of their babies, that
I had not the heart to gratify my curiosity to see
how many there were, and what they were like.

E 2

52 THE BABY STORE-KEEPER.

Nearly three weeks passed, when the love of
prying overcame all other scruples, and a peep
into the snug, cosy, chequered retreat was irre-
sistible. Separating with the utmost caution the
walls of the entrance- hole, three baby- squirrels
were visible, — such queer little animals, they
seemed all eyes and tail. The papa and mamma
were both loud in their remonstrances, and
frightfully angry at the impertinent intrusion;
but as I did not touch the infants, and, as far as
practicable, mended the torn entrance, why, it
appeared to me there was not much ground for
complaint.

Visiting my pets on the following day, imagine
my surprise at finding the nest empty, and
the old and young vanished together. First I
thought some poaching weasel had murdered the
innocents; but no — the old ones had carried
them away into some other retreat, because I
had looked at them, and meddled with the nest.
Instinct here appears vastly near akin to
reason ; what had happened once, the ' Store-
keeper' evidently thought might occur again, and
wisely took the precautionary measure of conceal-
ment, selecting a spot unknown to the intruder.

Its name, ' Ogress Squirrel,' arises from a
singular Indian tradition, that I think is quite

THE OGRESS LEGEND. 53

worth repeating, as it shows us how readily unci-
vilized man seizes on the supernatural to ac-
count for everything beyond his comprehension.
Spiritual agencies and wild myths form subjects
for the daily chat round the lodge-fire; every-
thing becomes mysterious that is not under-
stood; the very language of the red-man is a
tangled chaos of symbols, figures, and metaphors.
A prominent performer in all their legends is
a terrible old woman, half witch, half ogress, of
very doubtful reputation, armed with teeth like
a, wolf, and the claws of a grizzly-bear; her
entire time spent in doing evil, eating children,
and waging unceasing war on the good and
virtuous.

To make the story brief, it seems this amiable
old lady (at some period far away in the dim
history of the past) spied a fat dainty young
'redskin,' the son of a brave and good chief,
playing by the side of a mountain-burn, not far
from the wigwam of his parents. With wily
words of endearment, and holding out a basket
filled with ripe berries and gaudy flowers, the
witch-woman coaxed the baby-savage within
reach of her terrible claws: as she clutched it,
the father and mother saw their loved one's
peril, too late to rescue, to save, beyond all

54 A GEEAT MEDICINE.

human power. There was but one chance, one
last frail hope to cling to : falling on their knees,
both prayed, and, in the agony of despair, be-
sought the 'Great Spirit' to use his power and
save their child — give it back to them, or change
it into any form, so that it escape the teeth and
talons of the dreaded ogress. The prayer was
heard, and the boy, assuming at once the form of
a tiny squirrel, deftly slipped from out her grip,
but not unscathed; the marks inflicted by four
of her claws remain to this day on its back, as
evidence of the story's truthfulness.

Hence it is that Indian boys seldom kill this
squirrel, ill-luck befalling all such profane trans-
gressors, and that 'medicine-men' (the doctors
and conjurors of the tribes) wear its skin as a
potent and all-powerful charm.

The ' Store-keeper,' bearing on its back the
marks of the wicked old woman's finger-nails,
may be seen by any who choose to visit the
British Museum, where a specimen I shot is set
up very near the ' rock- whistler.'

THE DIPPEE. 55

THE DIPPER.

(Hydrobata mexicana.)

Like the well-known gallinule, or water-hen
(Gallinula cliloropus\ the dipper swims and
dives with great facility ; the plumage, close and
compact, is similarly adapted to resist moisture
— a wise provision, enabling the bird to remain a
long period in the water without becoming wet.
It resembles the starling in the form of the beak,
falcate wings, mellow song, and feet, constructed
on the type of ordinary perchers; bill without
any bristle at the base, somewhat long and
slender, and bent slightly upward; the culmen
concave towards the tip, which is notched and
curved; feet and legs strong, claws large, lateral
toes equal ; tail very short.

The colouring of the British dipper's plumage,
though somewhat inclining to the sombre, is
nevertheless chaste and pretty. The crown on
the upper parts of the head and neck shades im-
perceptibly away into the velvet-black of the
back, scapulars, and wing-coverts. The breast,
front part of the neck, and throat are snowy
white; a rusty-brown line separates it from the

56 THE ANGLER'S FRIEND.

black. The legs are somewhat short, but very
strong ; the claws considerably curved, to pre-
vent slipping.

Of most hermit-like and exclusive habits, the
dipper loves to linger amidst the wildest soli-
tudes of Nature, frequenting streams that push
their headlong way through mountain-glens, or
wind in tortuous course over the heather- clad
moorland. It may, too, occasionally be seen
briefly resting on the dripping spokes of the
wheel when the mill stops, its low plaintive
warble faintly heard above the splash of the
water.

Every angler must be familiar with the dip-
per's song, always a welcome strain — not loud,
but exquisitely sweet and melodious. Except
during the breeding season, it rarely happens
that two are seen together ; they pair very early,
and, before the ice is gone from the streams and
pools, in the month of February, their nuptial
choruses (as they fidget about, perched on a
boulder, dead log, or projecting rock, bobbing
their heads, or dipping) herald the coming
spring. In the selection of their nesting-place
they exhibit great diversity of taste. It may be
placed in the cleft of a rock, in a ruined wall,
among a mass of tangled roots, under a bridge,

A CUEIOUS HABIT. 57

close to a milldam, but always near running
water. One I knew of was under a rude bridge
on Dartmoor, wedged between two granite
boulders; another by the side of a milldam in
Cornwall, a third amongst the timbers of an old
salmon-trap.

The dippers are most restless and active in
their habits : ever flitting from spot to spot,
always on the move, diving into the stream, out
again — steadfast in nothing but continual change.
The most singular trait in their versatile cha-
racter is a power they possess, enabling them not
only to remain for a long time under water, but
walk about on the pebbles or gravel at the
bottom of streams or pools, in search of larva?
and aquatic insects, just as a man in a diving-
dress seeks for lost treasure round the hull of a
sunken ship.

The late and ever-to-be-lamented naturalist,
Mr. Waterton, thus commented on this most
curious habit:—

' This is the bird whose supposed subaquatic
pranks have set the laws of gravity at defiance,
by breaking through the general mandate, which
has ordained that things lighter than water shall
rise towards its surface, and that things that are
heavier shall sink beneath it. If the water-ouzel,

58 THE DIPPER LIBELLED.

which is specifically lighter than water, can ma-
nage, by some inherent power, to walk on the
ground at the bottom of a rivulet, then there is
great reason to hope that we, who are heavier
than air, may any day rise up into it, unassisted
by artificial apparatus, such as wings, gas, steam,
or broom-staff.'

Although the feet are strictly those of a
percher, still the dipper can swim like a duck,
and as I have often seen a diver spread its
wings, and literally fly when under water ; so this
bird, in order to escape, if suddenly alarmed,
frequently goes a long distance down-stream,
using its wings beneath the water, much in the
same manner as it would if flying through the
air.

The poor little dipper has many terrible and
implacable enemies; they saddle him with crimes
and offences against the fisheries that he does
not deserve, brand him as a poacher, offer re-
wards for his head, and ruthlessly take his life.
Farmers, gardeners, gamekeepers, and managers
of fisheries, actuated, I doubt not, by the
purest motives for good, are nevertheless too
prone to nail their best friends to the barn-door.
Destroy the feathered police, and hosts of
insect marauders, that laugh at guns, traps,
poison, or rewards, will most surely mow down

DOES NOT CARE FOE EGGS. 59

your fields and forests, and play havoc with your
fisheries into the bargain.

Believe me, it is not with any felonious intent
that the dipper visits the spawning-beds. He
would not give a chirp to breakfast on the
daintiest fish-eggs that speckled trout or silver
salmon ever laid. Fat larvas, plump savoury
water-beetles, and delicate young freshwater
molluscs, are his delight ; and he knows well
the weakness such robbers have for new-laid
eggs, and, like a sensible bird, goes where the
eggs are, to find them — an obedience to instinct
that often costs him his life.

I have opened the stomachs of dozens of dip-
pers, when collecting for the purpose of Natural
History (not only in this country, but in the
United States, British Columbia, Texas, and
Oregon, where all the streams are alive with
salmon and trout), and never in a single instance
did I discover other than the remains of insects
and freshwater shells.

A Highland clan, a weed, and the ouzel are
severally classed, in a quaint old distich (quoted
in the ' Dictionary of Animated Nature'), as the
direst enemies of the Moray. Thus it runs : —

The Gordon, the guile,* and the water craw
Are the very worst ills th e Moray ever saw.

* Guile, a weed destructive to corn-lands.

60 THE AMERICAN DIPPER.

I have thus referred to the English dipper to
introduce its very near relation, inhabiting the
far North-west. It, too, eschews all sociable com-
munion, disdaining the slightest approach to a
gregarious life except when mated, choosing in-
variably wild mountain-streams, where, amidst
the roar of cascades, whirling eddies, and swift
torrents, it passes its lonely life.

The American dipper (Hydrobata Mexicana)
ranges from the coast to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains. I have killed it at an altitude of
seven thousand feet above the sea-level. In size
it very nearly resembles the European bird, but
differs greatly in colour; being of a uniform
plumbeous grey, the only markings a minute
spot above the anterior corner of the eye.

I once found the nest of the American dipper
built amongst the roots of a large cedar-tree that
had floated down the stream and got jammed
against the niilldam of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany's old grist-mill, at Fort Colville, on a tribu-
tary to the Upper Columbia river. The water,
rushing over a jutting ledge of rocks, formed a
small cascade, that fell like a veil of water before
the dipper's nest; and it was most curious to see
the birds dash through the waterfall, rather than
go in at the sides, and in that way get behind it.

THE MINER'S CRADLE. 6i

For hours I have sat and watched the busy pair,
passing in and out through the fall, with as much
apparent ease as an equestrian performer jumps
through a hoop covered with tissue-paper. The
nest was ingeniously constructed, to prevent the
spray from wetting the interior, the moss being
so worked over the entrance as to form an ad-
mirable verandah.

Mr. George Gibbs ('Natural History, Washing-
ton Territory,') speaks of two he noticed whilst
gold -washing on the Salmon river : ' As I sat at
my cradle on the bank, a pair of dippers, which I
suppose had their nest hard by, or perhaps, as it
was July or August, had already hatched their
brood, used to play in the water near me, some-
times alighting at the head of a rapid, allowing
themselves to be swept under, and then rising
below. They dive with great celerity, and at
times beat the water with their wings, throwing
the spray over themselves. Their whistle was
sweet and rather sad, but they seemed very
happy and busy fellows notwithstanding, and in
nowise afraid of the harsh rattle of the " miner's
cradle.'"

62

CHAPTER IY.

NATURE OF COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE 49TH PARALLEL FROM THE
GULF OF GEORGIA TO THE SILMILKAMEEN — GIANT TREES — SU-

MASS PRAIRIE AND LAKE NORTHERN SWIFT WHITE-BELLIED

SWALLOW — THE TELLOW-BIRD — BARKING CROW — NORTH-WEST-
ERN FISH CROW — HUDSON'S BAT MAGPIE — STELLER'S JAY —

COUNTRY EAST OF THE CASCADES — THE OSOYOOS LAKES — NEW
MUSK-RAT — FIBER OSOYOOSENSIS (LORD) — NEW SPONGILLA,
SPONGILLA LORDII (BOWERBANK).

FOLLOWING the course of the 49th parallel from
the Gulf of Georgia, to our astronomical station
at Ashtnolow,* near the Silmilkameen Valley, is
an unbroken forest with a thick and tangled
growth of underbrush, in which there is little or
no grass, or food of any kind for pack-animals ;
a deficiency we were compelled to supply by
providing grain. Here and there so-called ' wet
prairies ' are met with, even at an altitude of
2,000 feet above the sea-level ; but these marshy
oases yield only the scantiest forage, being covered

* Previously alluded to, Vol. I.

DEVIL'S WALKING-STICK. 63

with Equisitacece, and rank sour sedge-grass.
The characteristic trees attaining to any mag-
nitude on the western slope of the Cascades
are the Douglas Spruce (Abies Douglassii}*
Menzies Spruce (A. Menziesii), Hemlock Spruce
(A. Mertensiana], Pinus contorta, and the useful
so-called 'Cedar' (Thuja gig antea). Between the
open bits of prairie are graceful groups of the
large-leaved Maple (Acer macropliyllum}, Vine
JMaple (A. circinatum), together with the waving
Dogwood (Cornus nuttalii), and brilliant red and
green Alders (Alnus rubra and A. viridis} ; whilst
the river-banks and loamy valleys are shaded by
clumps and rows of massive poplars (Populus
balsamifera), under the larger forest-growths,
Mahonia, Spireus, Ribes, Vacciniums, Gaultheria,
and that most prickly and unpleasant plant named
the ' Devil's Walking-stick' (Panax horridus),
mingle their leaves and branches into an im-
penetrable tangle.

The first twenty miles of the Boundary-line
takes nearly a parallel course with the Eraser

* Through patches of these gigantic firs, near the Sumass
prairie, the axe-men had to cut the Boundary-line. The
trees grew thickly together, and many exceeded 30 feet in
circumference, and measured from 200 to 250 feet when
stretched on the ground by the brawny choppers.

64 NOETHEEN SWIFTS.

river, at an average distance from it of nine miles.
This part of it is quite or very nearly a dead level,
and very little above the sea, densely timbered,
and terminating at the spurs of the Cascade
Mountains. Here the Sumass prairie and its lake,
so often referred to, are situated. The lake is
ten miles long, and about four-and-a-half wide.
I have already explained how the prairie is
flooded, and that in June the water again sub-
sides ; after this the growth of the various grasses
and sedges (Cyperacece) is rapid beyond any-
thing I have ever witnessed elsewhere. In two
months the grass attains a height of four and
seven feet. As the water disappears, swarms of
insects accumulate, as if by magic ; birds of
various species arrive to devour them, build
their nests, and rear their young.

Amongst the earliest of these visitors I noticed
the Northern Swift (Nephocaetes Niger, Baird).
It was a foggy day early in June, and, the insects
being low, the birds were hovering close to the
ground. I shot four. The next day I searched in
vain, but never saw the birds again until the fall
of the year, when they a second time made their
appearance in large numbers — birds of the year
as well as old ones. From their habit of flying at
a great height, it is extremely difficult to obtain

WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 65

specimens. I believe I again saw this swift at
Fort Colville.

In June I observed a very large number of
swifts in company with about an equal num-
ber of goatsuckers ( Chordeiles popetue) ; they
were hovering at a great altitude. After wait-
ing a very long time, I succeeded in obtain-
ing one goatsucker. The swifts never came
within shot ; neither did I ever after see them.
On opening the goatsucker, its stomach was
perfectly gorged with winged ants. I have no
doubt this was the attraction which delayed the
swifts on their northern route; and from the
fact of their disappearing here, as they did at
Sumass, I imagine they go far north to nest;
had they bred anywhere along the Boundary-
line, I am sure I must have discovered them.

White-bellied Swallows (Hirundo bicolor} are
always in great force, and make their nests of
ducks' feathers, in holes either bored by them-
selves, or the work of woodpeckers, in the totter-
ing old willows that grow round the oozy margin
of the lake. Flycatchers, sedgebirds, and a
host of other summer migrants, specified in the
Appendix, take up their respective hunting-
grounds, and commence domestic duties.

One of the most conspicuous of the smaller

VOL. II. F

66 THE YELLOW-BIRD.

finches is the Yellow-bird (Chrysomitris tristis,
Bon). This tiny finch— robed in golden -yellow,
delicately shaded and streaked with rich brown,
a velvet black cap on its head, and just enough
white as a fringe to light up the dark tail and
wing-feathers — may be ranked as the most
exquisitely-plumaged of North-western birds.
One could almost imagine, as it silently climbs
amidst the green foliage of the pines, that it was
an orchid-blossom blown from the tropics into
colder regions, rather than a bird.

As a singer the 'yellow-bird' has little to boast
of — as an architect it is deserving the highest
credit. The nest is a perfect work of art, most
delicately woven, in shape symmetrically round,
and skilfully lashed with real ropes of fibre to
the forked branches chosen as the building-site.

Fine linty materials gathered from different
plants, thistledown, spiders' webs, and silk pil-
laged from insect cocoons, make up the walls ;
the inside, lined with feathers, hair, and soft
fibres, is a bed fit for a fairy-queen to sleep in.
Five eggs are usually laid in June or early in
July, soon after the birds make their appearance.
They are distributed plentifully throughout Bri-
tish Columbia, and are sometimes seen on Van-
couver Island, but were more abundant east
than west of the Cascades.

BARKING CROWS. 67

As a contrast to this and other gay-looking
birds, hosts of crows take up building-lots in the
thick thorn-bushes and lofty pine-trees. The
latter position is chosen by the Barking Crow
(Corvus americanus).

If birds are gifted with ventriloquial powers,
I should say the Barking Crow was at the top of
the profession. Wandering through the forest
encircling the prairie, one's ears are dinned by
the extraordinary sounds made by these crows.
Sometimes it seems as if these hidden polypho-
nists were making all sorts of disagreeable fun of
you, and chuckling hoarsely at their own jokes ;
then one goes in for a ' bit of a song,' and others
readily taking it up, they manage between them
to raise, as a refrain, a combination of discords
compared to which the parrots' screams in the
Zoological Gardens is whispered melody. They
shriek, laugh, yell, shout, whistle, scream, and
bark — driving one to wish all the crows in British
Columbia were consigned to the depths of Hades.
If listening eagerly for the note of a bird you are
most wishful to discover, a Barking Crow is pretty
sure to perch close over your head and begin its
unearthly noises ; or if enjoying the notes of a
forest minstrel, its songs perhaps quite new to
the ear, in comes a crow with its husky gurgling

r 2

68 BUILDS AN OPEN NEST.

chorus, and spoils the melody. If reposing on the
soft warm sandy beach in dreamy reveries, listen-
ing to the lip-lap of the ripple, and thoroughly
enjoying the quietude of surrounding nature, a
flock of roystering crows are sure to alight on the
rocks close by, and do their best to display their
vocal capabilities. It surely must have been one
of the British- Columbian crows that quaint old
JEsop knew !

They also go farther inland to breed, building
their nests of sticks in low bushes, often not
four feet from the ground, where there are no
tall trees. I saw one little stream, east of the
Cascades, where the low alder-bushes growing
along its banks were quite as thickly filled
with the nests of the Barking Crow as the trees
in an English rookery are with rooks' nests.
I could look into some of them, and into all
readily put my hand without climbing; the
sticks are neatly crossed and piled together,
and the interior lined with grass stalks, hair,
bits of lichen, and dry leaves ; the nests are open
at the top, and five was the greatest number of
eggs I saw in a nest. The Barking Crow is
found in every part of British Columbia or Van-
couver Island, and the lesser islands in the Gulf
of Georgia ; simply changing their quarters from

NORTH-WESTERN FISH CROWS. 69

the forests to the seacoasts during the winter
months, when they live entirely on molluscs,
crustaceans, dead fish, or anything else procur-
able from Neptune's realms.

A near relative arrives at the same time, and
takes up its quarters in the thick scrubby white
thorns — the North-western Fish Crow (Corvus
caurinus, Baird). This much smaller crow Dr.
Baird has described in his valuable book on
North American Birds (page 569). But he says,
in finishing his specific descriptions, ' Indeed, it
is almost a question whether it is more than a
dwarfed race of the other species.'

I have not the slightest doubt that it is a dis-
tinct species, although so very like the Barking
Crow in all its essential features, as far as colour,
form of bill, scaling of tarsi, and other de-
tails are concerned. The much smaller size,
difference in voice, and habit of constructing a
domed nest lined with mud, are constant cha-
racters of sufficient value to justify Dr. Baird's
specific difference. These small crows are prin-
cipally found on the seacoast, retiring to the
trees to sleep and caw during high-tide ; follow-
ing out its ebb, and receding before its flood,
they feast on any marine provender they may be
lucky enough to find. They never make such a

70 BUILDS A DOMED NEST.

discordant babel of sounds as their friends and
companions the barkers, but caw much as do
our jackdaws.

The seacoast is abandoned when the breeding-
time arrives, early in May, when they resort in
pairs to the interior; selecting a patch of open
prairie, where there are streams and lakes, and
the wild crab-apple and white-thorn grows, in
which they build nests precisely like that of the
magpie, arched over the top with sticks. The
bird enters by a hole on one side, but leaves by
an exit- hole on the opposite. The inside is plas-
tered with mud ; a few grass-stalks strewn loosely
on the bottom keep the eggs from rolling. This
is so marked a difference to the Barking Crow's
nesting, as in itself to be a specific distinction.
The eggs are lighter in the blotching, and much
smaller. I examined great numbers of nests at
this prairie, and on the Columbia, but invariably
found the same habit of doming prevailed. After
nesting, they return with the young to the sea-
coasts, and remain in large flocks, often asso-
ciated with the Barking Crows, until nesting-
time comes again. During their sojourn inland,
their food consists principally of small reptiles,
freshwater molluscs, or grubs; and I have seen
them catch butterflies flying near their nests,

MAGPIES. 71

which are placed low down, but in the centre of
a very thick prickly bush — a stronghold rigidly
guarded against all-comers. Not even a small
bird dare perch on that sacred bush ; and if hawk
or weasel venture to poach for eggs or young
birds, husband and wife dash fearlessly at the
thief, and ring such changes on its head or body
with their powerful beaks, that victory generally
lies on the side of the crows. Seven is the
greatest number of eggs I ever found in a nest,
five and six being the average. I saw it north at
the extreme end of Vancouver Island, but do not
imagine that to be its limit. Its southern range
(I only speak from personal observation) was
Cape Flattery; whether it extends along the
coasts of Oregon and south of California, I do
not know.

Very often magpies (Pica Hudsonlca] build
in the bushes, as close as safety permits them to
venture near the belligerent Fish Crows. These
thievish murderers are everywhere, from Vancou-
ver Island to the Rocky Mountains. They so very
nearly resemble our British bird, that one would
know no difference save by a careful comparison ;
seeing them in freedom, they appear to be iden-
tical. I call them murderers, because I have seen
them kill mules : and worse than that, pick the

72 PACKERS' PESTS.

eyes out of a living animal when, wounded and
helpless, it lay down to die; and pounce on
maimed birds, break in their skulls, and delibe-
rately devour their brains whilst the muscles still
quivered with life.

To the packer the magpies are dire enemies.
If a pack-mule or horse has a gall, and hap-
pens to be turned out to graze with the wound
uncovered, down come the magpies on its back;
clinging with their sharp claws, reckless of
every effort to displace them, they peck away
at the wound ; the tortured beast rolls madly,
and for a short time the scoundrels are obliged
to let go, but only to swoop down again the
instant a chance offers. This repeated agony
soon kills an animal, unless the packers rescue it.

We had frightful trouble with magpies at our
winter mule-camp, near Colville. They gradu-
ally accumulated, to eat the offal and what there
was besides, until they were in hundreds, and be-
came perfectly unbearable. Shooting at them was
only wasting valuable ammunition. The packers
were driven almost into a state of revolt. We
had an old maimed suffering mule which was to
be killed, so the packers gave it a ball containing
a large dose of strychnine : death was imme-
diate, and the carcase, ere ten minutes had

A TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION. 73

elapsed, was covered with magpies working at
the eyes, lips, sores, and soft skin inside the
thighs. It was the most singular spectacle I ever
witnessed. One after the other the birds rolled
from off the dead mule, and as they fell and
died, others greedily took their vacant places ;
and so this terrible slaughter went on, until the
heaps of dead magpies nearly buried the body ol
the mule. Two foxes, one cayote, several Indian
dogs, and a large wolf, on the day following the
mule's demise, lay dead by the side of the poi-
soned birds. It was a terrible revenge — how far

o

justifiable is a matter of opinion. The packers,
of course, were in wild glee at the entire success
of the scheme.

The magpie builds much the same kind of nest
as our British species, lays seven or eight eggs,
and commences nesting in March, long before the
snow begins to thaw. Numbers winter in the
interior, whilst others resort to the seacoast, and
feed on marine provender. They grow so tame
and impudent in winter, that I have often given
them food from my hand, without their showing
any evidence of fear.

Steller's Jay ( Cyanura stitteri) makes its pre-
sence known by the continual utterance of a dis-
cordant scream ; hopping perpetually from bough

74 STELLER'S JAY.

to bough, then darting down to nip an insect,
performing short erratic flights, and jerking its
crest of bright feathers up and down, its noisy
song seems everywhere. The Blue Jay appears
the embodiment of restlessness, and by sheer
impudence attracts attention from even the lone
hunter. Fond of frequenting the haunts of man,
jays are always plentiful near Indian lodges or
white men's shanties. By no means epicurean
in tastes, they readily devour anything — seeds,
salmon, grasshoppers, or venison. The nest,
artfully concealed amidst the thick foliage of a
young pine-tree, is composed of moss, small
twigs, lichen, and fir-fronds, and lined with deer-
hair. Seven is about the average number of eggs
laid.

On reaching the eastern slope of the Cascades,
grass becomes abundant, and dry fodder is un-
necessary. Trending eastward to cross the Simil-
kameen Valley, and thence passing the Osoyoos
lakes, grass is all the way abundant, and the
vegetation evidences a very much drier climate ;
instead of dense impenetrable forest, the trees
are sparsely scattered. Leguminous plants,
valerian and others, give a marked character to
the general herbage. On reaching the Na-hoil-
a-pit-ka river, which bends in a southerly course

THE OSOYOOS LAKES.

to join the Columbia, a short distance above the
Kettle Falls, mountains again commence; and
from this point to the summit of the Kocky
Mountains, the Boundary Line crosses a succes-
sion of mountain ranges, with narrow valleys
(often only rocky ravines) between them. The
illustration, taken from a photograph of one of our
camps amidst this chaos of rocks and trees, shows
how arduous the task of marking and cutting
the line through it really was.

I must linger a short time at the Osoyoos lakes.
This magnificent piece of water may be defined
as one large lake, or three smaller ones, with
equal correctness ; as a narrowing-in, at parti-
cular points, gives the appearance of an actual
division into separate lakes. The Boundary
Line runs through its centre, so that one half
the lake belongs to England (its northern half),
the southern to the United States. The shore
is sandy, like a seabeach, and, strewn thickly
with freshwater shells along the ripple line, has
quite a tidal aspect. On either side, a sandy
treeless waste stretches away to the base of the
hills, and so carpeted with cacti — which grow in
small knobs, covered with spines, like vegetable
porcupines — that walking on it, without being
shod with the very thickest boots, is to endure

76 WATER BIRDS' EDEN.

indescribable torture ; the prickles are so sharp
and hard, that they slip through ordinary leather
like cobblers' awls. We had to tie up our dogs
and horses, for the latter, getting the prickly
knobs into their heels, kicked and plunged
viciously until exhausted. The dogs got them
fast to their feet, and, impatiently seizing the
vegetable pests, only aggravated the mischief by
transferring them to the tongue and cheeks. I
have no hesitation in saying, a dog must inevi-
tably die from starvation if he ventured to cross
this waste alone ; the cacti once in his mouth, un-
aided he could never free himself. A low ' di-
vide' separates this valley from the Similkameen,
the water from the lakes eventually finding its
way into the Columbia river. If there is an Eden
for water-birds, the Osoyoos lakes must surely
be that favoured spot. At the upper end, a per-
fect forest of tall rushes, six feet in height,
afford the ducks, grebes, bitterns, and a variety
of waders, admirable breeding haunts — safe alike
from the prying eyes of birds that prey on their
kindred, and savages that indiscriminately eat
anything.

The water, alive with fish at all times, is in
the summer crowded with salmon. In the pools
on one side of the lake, I obtained a new

A NEW MUSK RAT. 77

species of musk-rat, which I have named Fiber
osoyoosensis.

The Musk Rat, which I believe is the well-
known Fiber zibethicus of Cuvier, makes its holes
in the clayey banks of streams and pools where
the water runs slowly. The entrance is always
below the surface, the hole dug up in a slanting
direction above the water-level. A stage or flat
place is cleared, which constitutes the dining-,
drawing-, and bed-room ; leading to the entrance
of this mansion are a number of open cuttings,
running in all directions, dug in the mud at the
bottom of the water. When foraging about, as the
musk rat usually does about twilight, if alarmed,
it dives at once into one of these cuttings, and,
rushing rapidly through, stirs up the mud, thus
fouling the water, and completely and effectually
concealing itself.

The other Musk Rat, which I call Fiber oso-
yoosensis, differs in size, colour, and structure,
but particularly in habits, from the preceding.
This fellow chooses as his haunt a clear pond
or lake, and in water from three to four feet deep
constructs a house of bulrushes, in form conical,
built up from the bottom — how I am at a loss to
imagine — the roof cleverly arched over into a
domed shape, and raised about a foot above the

78 BUILDERS AND MINERS.

water. Up in this dome, skilfully constructed,
is his suite of apartments, the entrance to which
is far below the surface of the water. His habits
very nearly approximate those of the beaver : he
swims about boldly in the daytime, but dives
rapidly on the approach of danger. If a dead or
badly-wounded duck be left on the pool, it is
at once seized on, towed into the house, and
devoured.

I am quite satisfied, from careful observation,
that the Musk Rat is a carnivorous beast when-
ever he has a chance; and the straight, sharp-
cutting, strong incisor-teeth are well adapted for
the indulgence of cannibal propensities.

If there were no rushes growing where this
mud-rover lived, it might be assumed that he
dug a hole into the bank from lack of material
to build a house; but I have often seen the
rushes growing abundantly where he has chosen
his mud hut, offering every facility for architec-
tural pursuits, had he so willed. On the other
hand, had the rush-builder been precluded from
finding a mud-bank in which to construct his
mansion, it might have been supposed that he
had resorted to making a hut with rushes on that
account.

NEW SPONGILLA. 79

FIBER OSOYOOSENSIS. (LORD, up. nov.)

Sp. char. — In total length 3^ inches shorter than Fiber zibethicus
(Cuv.) ; in general size much smaller. General hue of back jet-
black ; but, the hair being of two kinds, if viewed from tail to
head it looks grey — the under fur being fine, silky, and light-grey
in colour ; concealing this on the upper surface are long coarse
black hairs ; the belly and sides somewhat lighter ; head broad and
depressed : neck indistinct ; ear small, upper margin rounded ; eye
small and black ; the feet, legs, and claws are so exactly like those
of Fiber zibethicus that it would be useless to describe them again ;
whiskers long, and composed of about an equal number of white
and black hairs ; incisors nearly straight, on the external surface
orange-yellow.

The skull differs from Fiber zibethicus in being much smaller,
2£ inches in length, 1£ inch in width, very much shorter from the
anterior molar to incisors ; nasal bones much more rounded at their
posterior ends, the superior outline less curved ; postorbital process
not nearly so much developed ; the cranial portion of the skull in
its upper outline is much less concave, and smoother ; superior
outline of occipital bone not so prominent or strong ; incisors
shorter and much straighter ; molars much smaller, but in general
outline similar.

In this lake I obtained a new species of fresh-
water mollusc, which Dr. Baird, who kindly de-
scribed it for me, named Succinea Hawkinsii, in
honour of the Commissioner, Colonel Hawkins.
It will be found carefully described in the Ap-
pendix.

I also observed a spongilla growing round the
stalks of the rushes, much larger, and more sponge-
like in character, than any spongilla I had pre-
viously seen. There was no lack of it in many
places; the rush-stalks were all covered with it,

80 SPONGILLA LOEDII.

from their root-hold to the water-level, a length of
two feet, and often more. This spongilla Professor
Bowerbank has kindly described for rne since my
return. I cannot do better than append the
Professor's description : —

1 SPONGILLA LORDIL (BOWEKBANK, N. S.)

* Sponge sessile ; coating surface even, smooth ; oscula simple,
dispersed. Pores inconspicuous ; dermal membrane pellucid, aspi-
culous; skeleton specula, acerate. Ovaries congregated on the
basal membrane, very numerous ; specula entirely spined, fusiform,
cylindrical, dispersed on the surface. Basal membrane abundantly
spiculous ; specula dispersed same as those of the ovaries. Colour
ochreous, yellow to green. Examined in the dried state.

' The sponge embraces the stems of a large
species of reed for eight or ten inches of its
length, and is about six or nine lines in greatest
thickness. In its general habit, and the struc-
ture of its skeleton, it closely resembles our J$ri-
tishFluviatilis; but it differs from that species in
the mode of disposition and structural peculiari-
ties of the ovaries, which more closely resemble
those of our British species S. lacustris, but
from which it differs in having the specula of
the ovaries nearly straight, while those of the
last-named species are usually arcuate. The
dermal membrane of S. lacustris also abounds in
entirely- spined tension specula, while that of S.
Lordii is aspiculous.

SPONGILLA LORDII. 81

'This species is interesting, from its close alliance
in structure to the European type of this genus,
and from the very slight structural resemblance
it has to the numerous species of the Amazon
river ; the principal character by which it is
connected with the latter series of species being
the mode of the congregation and disposition
on its basal membrane of its very numerous
ovaries.

' I have dedicated this species to Mr. J. K. Lord,
as a slight acknowledgment of the good services
he has done to science by the collection of this
and numerous other valuable specimens of Na-
tural History, from the unfrequented regions
which he has explored.'

VOL. II. G

CHAPTER Y.

REJOIN THE COMMISSION — JOURNEY TO WALLA-WALLA AND BACK

SCENERY OF THE UPPER COLUMBIA OLD FORT WALLA-WALLA

WALLA- WALLA INDIANS — NEW WALLA-WALLA CITY — THE

HORSE-FAIR — INDIAN MUSTANGS — CURIOUS CUSTOM OF THE

SIS-KY-OU INDIANS THE AMERICAN GARRISON AN UGLY

ADVENTURE OVERLAND TRIP TO WALLA- WALLA CEDAR

SPRING AND THE SHORE-LARKS — SAGE COCK, OR COCK OF
THE PLAINS — TOWNSEND'S GROUND-SQUIRREL — A DIFFICULT

MARCH— THE PRAIRIE HARE— CASTLE AND CHIMNEY ROCKS-
REACH WALLA-WALLA.

WE have rejoined the Commission at the Dalles;
one party has proceeded up the west or right bank
of the Columbia, there to strike off in a northerly
direction for Fort Simcoe, in order to reach the
point at which the Boundary Line had been
abandoned the previous year ; it being more ex-
pedient to ascend the Columbia, in order to get
east of the Cascades, than it was to transport so
large a party, with mules, across their serried
heights

We are to keep on the left bank of the Co-
lumbia, proceeding first to Walla- walla ; thence,

WOOD-PILE ON FIRE. 83

takino* a northerly direction, to cross the Snake
river, where its tributary, the Peloose, joins it;
then, passing by the Big Lake, travel due north
to Fort Colville. It will facilitate description to
resume my journal :-

June 5. — I start alone for Walla-walla. A
stage from the Dalles takes me to the Des

o

Chutes or ' fall ' river, where I embark in the

' Colonel Wright,' a small crank steamer propelled

by an enormous stern-wheel. The Columbia

river was in full flood, and rushing down with

terrific force made our progress tediously slow.

We were well out in the current, when there

was a hue-and-cry that the wood-pile was on fire ;

luckily it did no harm — the burning logs were

dragged out and thrown into the water. More

dismal scenery can hardly be imagined — not a

tree or shrub visible — nothing but grass dry as

hay, and level sandy plains. At Sundown the

vessel is made fast to some stakes driven into the

bank, there being nothing else to moor her to.

June 6. — The splash of the stern- wheel and
creak of machinery awake me; we are again
struggling against a terrific current, and the wind
blowing a gale dead ahead. The same monoto-
nous shrubless waste — nothing to interest or
amuse, save the excitement of twisting and

G 2

84 A TEDIOUS VOYAGE.

struggling through rapids, and watching the
' deck hands ' take in wood at the different
' wooding stations.' The boilers are heated with
wood only, which is hauled by ox-teams from
the nearest forest or timbered district, often
many miles: cutting, cording, and hauling the
wood requisite for the trip from the Des Chutes
to Walla-walla is a very heavy item.

We pass the mouth of John Day's river, the
Umatilla, and several other tributaries. Where
the rivers joined, small encampments of Indians
were busy fishing, but we did not go sufficiently
near to see what fish they were taking. As we
get farther up-stream, colossal piles of basaltic
rocks, naked and cinderous, appear to have grown
from out the sand; quaint are the shapes these
masses assume, and from resemblances really
startling are named Chimney-rocks, Castle-rocks,
Turret-rocks, and so on, as they suggest some well-
known object to the traveller. The weariest day
must have an ending; at night we tie up as
before, only twelve miles below old Fort Walla-
walla — our destination.

June 7. — We are at old Walla-walla, 5.30
A.M. ; wind blowing a hurricane, and carrying
along with it sand, and even small pebbles. The
landing is effected on a kind of floating pier; and

WALLA-WALLA INDIANS. 85

whilst the stage-driver is harnessing his mus-
tangs, I take a peep at the old fort, or rather
what remains of it, which is a square enclosed by
adobe (mud) walls loopholed, and once guarded
by massive gates ; but these are gone, as are the
houses of the fur-traders that the crumbling old
walls protected in the early days of the Hudson's
Bay Company.

The Walla-walla Indians, at the time the
Hudson's Bay Company established this most
desolate trading-post, were a wild and powerful
tribe, very hostile and averse to the Company's
trading. After several severe fights, in which
many lives were lost on both sides, the traders
abandoned the fort during the Sis-ky-ou Avar, in
the year 1833. Whisky, disease, and forays
with white men and neighbouring Indian tribes
has so reduced the once-dreaded Walla-wallas,
that a few broken-spirited lazy horse-thieves are
their only representatives to be met with. The
Walla- walla river joins the Columbia close to
the steamer-landing.

I endure the usual amount of stao;e discomfort,

o '

in passing over thirty miles of the most miserable
forlorn-looking country I ever beheld. We
reach New Walla- walla city about dusk ; the
city is one straight street about a quarter of a

86 NEW WALLA-WALLA CITY.

mile in length, consisting principally of grog-
shops (or groceries), tawdry bar-rooms, billiard-
saloons, a few stores, and ' Corals ' for putting
horses in. The throng in the streets consists of
half-naked savages, with their squaws and child-
ren, gold-miners, settlers, American soldiers, and
rowdies of all sorts. I learn there are two causes
to which this extraordinary city owes its exist-
ence: first, the establishment of an American
garrison, to protect the settlers in Washington
Territory from Indian incursions, which garrison
is about a mile away ; and secondly, the rumours
of rich gold-placers in the Blue Mountains, a
little to the southward.

I met my friend, to whom I had letters of in-
troduction, and slept at his house, about a mile
from this den of villany.

June 8. — The news that I was a Govern-
ment Agent, seeking mules and horses, spread
like a prairie-fire ; and Walla-walla, as I enter it
this morning, is a perfect horse-fair. Sis-ky-ous,
Walla-wallas, Nez-perces, and Indians from
various smaller tribes, living on the Columbia
and its tributaries, were dashing wildly up and
down the street — some on bare-backed horses,
others having a rude kind of saddle: all are
yelling, whooping, and flourishing their lassos,

A NOVEL HORSE-FAIR. 87

like maddened fiends. Hoping to attract my
attention, they ride much closer than seems quite
consistent with my personal safety. So I en-
sconce myself in a 'Coral,' and contemplate the
fair over the strong railings quite as agreeably
and very much more safely than outside.

Half-naked savages, one after another (often
two or three together), dash up to the rails, and
lling themselves from off the panting horses ; run
their hands down the length of the horse's back,
to show it has no galls or sores ; tickle its flanks
and creep under its belly, to demonstrate its
docility ; drag open the lips, to show the teeth ;
invariably ask four times the sum they intend to
take ; give a frantic yell on being offered less ;
spring again upon the horses' backs, to gallop
furiously about, until, tired of further exhibition,
and hopeless of exacting a larger sum, they ride
quietly to the ' Coral,' turn in the horses, and re-
ceive payment. The detail of all my bargainings
would afford the reader but little interest ; suffice
it to say, I made many purchases, and afterwards
adjourned to the American garrison.

It is difficult to say when horses were intro-
duced into the Indian country west of the Rocky
Mountains, but most probably about the com-
mencement of this century. They are clearly

88 A STRANGE CUSTOM AMONGST THE SIS-KY-OUS.

descended from Spanish stock — stout, compact,
enduring animals, seldom exceeding 15 hands,
14 J hands being about the average standard
of height. Spotted horses are very common,
and much prized by the squaws.

The Sis-ky-ou Indians have a singular custom .
of cuttino; off the tails of the horses to a mere

O

stump, and cropping the ears, as terrier-dogs are
trimmed by the ' Fancy.' For what purpose such
bai'barous treatment is resorted to I could not
discover, but I imagine it enables them more
readily to identify their horses in case of theft.
I purchased a crop-eared tailless horse, for my
own use, but the poor animal suffered so fear-
fully from the punctures of musquitos and sand-
flies, having no tail to whip them off, that I could
not ride him in fly- time.

I am most hospitably treated by Colonel
Wright, the commandant of the American garrison,
which consists of a number of very neatly-built
houses, arranged in a square. Four companies,
consisting of infantry and cavalry, are sometimes
stationed here. The officers have a capital
billiard-room, and a small theatre for amateur
performances. The situation is desolate in the
extreme — nothing visible in any direction but a
sandy extent of barren treeless country,

THE STORM. 89

save a dim dark line bounding the horizon to the
right, which I am told are mountains, from which
all the wood used in the garrison is dragged by
mules and ox-teams. I spend a delightful even-
ing, and sleep at Captain Dent's.

June 9. — I am again en route for old Walla-
walla, to catch the steamer. The stage has no
other passenger. I can see by the black masses
of cloud, rolling like huge waves one after ano-
ther, that a storm of no trifling nature is about
to break over us. It rapidly darkens, and the
first flash of hVhtnmo- hisses through the stage,

t— ' o o o '

followed instantly by a deafening peal of thunder ;
the wind, as if suddenly let loose, rushes across
the waste, carrying with it sand enough to bury
one ; flash follows flash so rapidly, that the dismal
plain seems permanently lighted; the crashing
thunder-claps completely overpower all other
sounds, and the rain begins to pour down in a
very deluge.

The storm does not last long; but the driver,
blinded by the sand, and the glare of the lightning,
has missed his way, and we are clearly in the
Walla-walla river. The stage fills rapidly. I
dash open the door, determined, at least, to
have a swim for my life ; there is a terrible
scrambling of the horses, accompanied with a

90 GOING DOWN STREAM.

heavy lurch, a cheery 'All right, Cap.!' from
the driver, which tells me we are again on terra
firma. We hold a council, and determine to
unharness the mustangs, and await the daylight.
It certainly was the most miserable night I ever
passed; wet, cold, and hungry, my miseries were
enhanced by the fear of missing the steamer, and
being detained perhaps a month.

June 10. — It was fortunate we did not attempt
to proceed ; we are far away from the road, and, as
I suspected, had made a short voyage in the
Walla- walla river. Luckily, the banks being low
and shelving, the horses were enabled to scramble
out, and tug the stage after them. We saved the
steamer by the merest chance, and I am again on
board. Going down the river is a very different
affair to coming up. We go at such a rate, that
the wheel at the stern is next to useless ; through
some of the swifter rapids it is quite like flying ;
if a rock should be touched, we shall be food
for the fishes. What occupied us three days to
accomplish up-stream, we do in six hours down.
I reached my camp at the Dalles about seven
o'clock in the evening.

o

Three days were occupied in making the neces-
sary arrangements for departure.

June 14. — We start again for Walla -walla, this

MUD-CREEK. 91

time by land. The Commissioner, nineteen men,
and thirty- two laden mules, complete our party ;
the others, with some heavy baggage, are gone
by the steamer, to await our arrival. We cross
the Fall-River on a very creditable wooden
bridge, for which the modest sum of half a dollar,
(two shillings) was demanded for each animal,
packed or ridden. (This bridge, soon after, was
completely swept away by a heavy flood.)
Thirty-four bullocks, driven by two mounted
herders, formed a kind of rearguard.

We made a twenty-mile march, and camped at
Mud Creek — a dismal place, with little or no
wood, and very bad water.

When tents are used, getting away in the
morning is always a tedious process; we start
about seven o'clock. For some distance we wind
through a series of rounded hills, covered thickly
with 'bunch-grass,' a most nutritious herbage; the
grass grows in tufts — hence the name. Not a
shrub to be seen — neither bird nor beast. De-
scend a basaltic gorge, like an immense canal cut
in the solid rock, and come suddenly on a swift
stream, named John Day's river ; this we ferried
in a kind of scow, hauled from side to side by a
rope. Again we had to pay two shillings a head
for mules and horses ; the bullocks swam it.

92 THIRSTY SHORE-LARKS.

June 15. — Made a short march, and camped
early, near some stunted juniper-trees, where a
small stream of water literally squirted out from
the side of a steep bank ; it is the only water within
a long distance, and the place bears the name of
Cedar Springs, as the junipers are called cedars
by the traders.

It was most interesting to watch the Shore
Larks (Eremopliila cornuta). As evening ap-
proached, they actually came boldly in amongst
the men and mules, intense thirst overcoming
all sense of fear. These handsome little birds
are very plentiful throughout British Columbia.
They nest very early on these sandy plains,
even before the snow leaves the ground. I saw
young birds early in May. Near this spring
I saw the Cock of the Plains, or Sage Cock
( Centrocercus urophasianus}.

I scarcely think this handsome grouse can be
strictly included amongst British- Columbian
birds, although its northern range is very near
the Boundary Line on the right bank of the Co-
lumbia river ; still, I only know of its existence
west of the Rocky Mountains, in Washington
and Oregon Territories. I met with it before, on
the sandy plains near the head-waters of the
Des Chutes river, and know of its being found

THE SAGE-COCK. 93

on the right and left banks of the Columbia,
to the Spokan river on the one side, and the
Yakima on the other.

These grouse live entirely on the open sandy
plains, their principal food being the wild-sage
(Artemisia), which imparts such a rank un-
pleasant flavour to the flesh, that one might
almost as well chew the bitter bush as eat
any part of a sage-cock. It is almost impossible
to obtain the cocks in full nuptial costume,
when their necks are fringed with the most deli-
cate pinnated feathers. The meeting of two
cocks is sure to result in a fight, during which
the greater part of these ornamental feathers are
usually torn out. Unless the birds are killed prior
to a hostile encounter their plumage is never
perfect, as they only have these fine neck and
back-plumes at mating-time.

It is impossible for anyone to avoid being at
once impressed with the extraordinary adapta-
tion of the sage-cock's colour to the localities
in which it lives ; the mottlings of brown,
black, yellow, and white, are so exactly like the
lichens covering the rocks, the stalks of the
wild-sage, and the dried leaves, bunch-grass,
and dead twigs scattered over the sandy wastes,
that it is impossible to make them out to be

96 THE SAGE-HARE.

must be the droppings of a large flock of sheep
covering the ground thickly, just as though the
animals had been folded. I had barely time to
think what animal could be so abundant, when
the dogs, tired as they were, started two or
three large hares from under the wild-sage
bushes. We saw numbers of them, and shot
several ; but the flesh tasted so strongly of the
wild-sage, on which these hares mainly sub-
sist, that eating it was an impossibility. The
Prairie Hare (Lepus campestris) appears entirely
confined to these sandy desert-lands, being
replaced by the Red Hare (L. Washingtonii) in
the timbered districts.

The fur of the Prairie Hare is long and silky,
and exactly the colour of the sand and dead leaves
under the bushes wrhere they make their ' forms ;'
unless they move, it is impossible to distinguish
them, although looking down on their backs.
The ears are quite a fifth longer than the head.
In summer, the colour of the back, sides, throat,
and limbs is grey, varied with yellow and brown
markings ; tail quite white, above and below ; ears
yelloAV on the outside, but tipped with black,
thinly covered inside with long white hairs ; belly
quite white. In winter the hairs change to a
pure white ; the colouring-matter is absorbed, and

A SAD DISAPPOINTMENT. 97

the animal adapted to the snowy garb of winter,
without the trouble of changing its coat.

We ascend a short hill, and from its summit
gaze on the long-desired water ; but, misery of
miseries ! in the pool (only a very small one) are
six Indian horses, pawing and splashing, whilst
their riders, squatting close by, are indulging in
a friendly pipe. This, in itself, was enough to ag-
gravate any thirst-famished man, but, worse than
all, our dogs, the instant they caught sight of the
water, rushed off, in defiance of shouts and threats,
and helter-skelter dashed into the pond. Not con-
tent to stand and lap, like well-conducted dogs,
they rolled in the water, and so frightened the
horses, that together they managed so to stir up
the bottom, that drinking was impossible, unless
liquid mud were swallowed. There is nothing
to be done but to dip some water into -a pail,
and wait for the thickest of it to settle.

This is certainly the most dismal camping-
place I ever beheld. The Indians at the pool
are Umatillas, and live near the junction of the
Umatilla and Columbia rivers — a small peaceful
tribe, living principally on fish, sage-cocks, and
prairie-hares.

My journal records nothing of interest until

June 21 — We pass the masses of rock I had

VOL. II. II

98 CASTLE AND CHIMNEY ROCKS.

previously seen from the deck of the steamer,
Castle Rock and Chimney Rock — black columnar
pyramids, which appear to have dropped down
upon the sandy plains, rather than to have been
upheaved from below — bare and naked, without
even a coloured lichen to break their sombre
cinderous uniformity. These basaltic mountains
serve but to intensify the desolation of this inter-
minable wilderness. Our course is now along
the bank of the Columbia, that rushes on, muddy
and turbulent, to reach the Walla-walla, which
we follow up for about two miles, to meet our
party, that had been sent by steamer : find them
comfortably encamped, and enjoy a few days'
rest, after our sandy, frying, dismal trip.

CHAPTER VI.

THE GREAT PLAIN OF THE COLUMBIA — POND TURTLES AND THEIR

NESTS — THE SAGE RABBIT FIND CURIOUS STONEIMPLEMENTS

A TRADE IN FLINTS AND MARINE PRODUCTIONS AT SOME REMOTE
PERIOD, AND A SKULL(viDE ILLUSTRATION) UNALTERED BY PRESSURE

— LEAVE WALLA- WALLA CROSS THE SNAKE RIVER PELOUSE

INDIANS AND THEIR HORSES FALLS OF THE LOWER PELOUSE A

DISAGREEABLE INTRUDER — PLEASANT TO SEE TREES AGAIN — SAND-
FLIES BREEZE-FLIES CLARK'S CROW — THE SPOKAN RIVER —

WALKER'S PRAIRIE — PARRY'S GROUND-SQUIRREL — THE WAY THE
THREE SPECIES OF GROUND-SQUIRRELS REPLACE EACH OTHER ON
THE PLAIN — PARKMAN'S WREN AND ITS NEST — NUTHATCHES — THE
TITS — DEAD MAN'S PRAIRIE — ARRIVE AT FORT COLVILLE.

THE great plain of the Columbia over which we
are travelling, though its name gives the impres-
sion of a uniformly level surface, has, nevertheless,
its mountains and valleys. Its northern boundary
is an irregular line between the parallels of 48°
and 49°; southward it merges into and is con-
tinuous with the central plains of Oregon, and
thence extends to Salt Lake City, in Utah Terri-
tory.

The vegetation indicates a much drier climate
than that of the western side of the Cascades.

H 2

100 WESTERN POND TURTLE.

Dr. Lyall says,* in reference to this plain : ' A
good many plants found in this region are
strictly local in their distribution. Excepting
by the banks of lakes or streams, there are no
trees; and some of the orders, such as Ranun-
culacece, Caryophyllacece, Portulacacece, Rosacece,
Crassulacece, Saxifragacece, Vacciniacece, Orchi-
dacece, Liliacece, &c., which species are so
plentiful in the first region, have comparatively
few representatives ; whilst others, such as Legu-
minosce, Onagracece, Polemoniacece, &c., are more
common in this district, and give a character to
the vegetation.'

Difference of elevation in the plain regions
have each their peculiarities. The spurs of the
Cascades are usually too dry for even good grazing-
ground — their summits rocky, barren, and sparsely
timbered. A strip of land immediately adjoining
the Columbia, where it receives the waters of the
Spokan, offers, however, good graz ing-grounds
for the Indian horses.

In the grass surrounding our camp are quan-
tities of the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys
marmorata}, large and small — tiny little fel-
lows not bister than a horse-bean, and stout

oo

* ' Journal Linncean Society,' 1863, ' Botany of North-
west America.'

TURTLE EGGS. 101

old males and females. They seem to have left the
water all at the same time ; the females are busy
depositing their eggs in hollow places under the
wild-sage bushes, or amiclsttufts of grass ; but why
the little ones come on land as well, puzzles me.
It is next to impossible to catch them when in
the water ; their habit is to come out on the edge
of the pond or stream, or what they like better is
to scramble up on a floating log, and enjoy the
sunshine as it drifts about. The slightest noise
at once sends them, hurry-scurry, to the bottom.
Now I can pick them up as easily as I could
hedge-snails in Devonshire; they do not even
attempt to get out of the way.

The eggs are white, and devoid of shelly
covering, the contents being enclosed in a tough
membrane. I discovered about fifteen in each
nest, deposited in a heap, very similar to the way
our British garden-snail deposits its eggs in holes
in the earth. The sun hatches them, and I much
regret that I could not ascertain how long a time

o o

the eggs take to hatch by the sun's heat ; we had to
proceed on our journey, so I was obliged, though
reluctantly, to abandon this interesting investiga-
tion. The markings on the carapace are ex-
ceedingly pretty. The general colour is olive,
with darker mottlings, the under-portion (or

102 THE SAGE EABBIT.

'plastron') being a brilliant yellow. I believe this
is the only species of freshwater turtle found in
the waters of British Columbia ; its adult size is
about nine inches in length, and eight in width.

In ferreting out the turtle's eggs, I constantly
disturbed the beautiful little Sage Rabbit ; scarcely
ten inches in length, it looks more like a rat than
a rabbit, when scudding nimbly away amidst
the grass. The fur is light-grey, and very like
the sand and dry leaves amidst which it delights
to sit. The Wasco Indians call it Za-lak.

I procured specimens of this rabbit at the Dalles,
Cow Creek, and Colville; its favourite haunts
are the narrow belts of scrub that fringe the
banks of streams, hiding in crevices or among the
debris at the base of a cliff, or, failing these places
of concealment, makes burrows in the sandbanks ;
it breeds early. I obtained a doe in March, heavy
with young, and am disposed to think this rabbit
is only found east of the Cascades.

I found, in rambling over the sandy plain near
old Fort Walla-walla, numbers of flint imple-
ments, together with heaps of fragments. At some
remote period of time not easy to discover, the
Indians evidentlv made their arrow-heads and

•/

other implements of flint at this place. The stone
of which they were made could not have been

FLINT IMPLEMENTS. 103

obtained nearer than at the Cascades (previously
described in vol. i.), and must have been either
traded from the Indians inhabiting that district,
or brought from there by themselves.

I am disposed to think a regular flint trade
was carried on by these inland tribes, at some
remote period, with the tribes living on the sea-
board and lower parts of the Columbia. Not
only were flints traded, but dentalia (tooth-
shells), mother-o'pearl, and the barnacle parasitic
on the back of the whale. I dug ornaments
made from the three marine productions from out
a gravel-bank, together with the centre skull in an
Indian burial-ground (which it will be observed
in the illustration* is unaltered by pressure
during infancy), and a number of arrow-heads,
fragments, and scrapers, made from flint, or
other hard material, which must have been
brought a very long distance, as it has no re-
presentative in any rock found in the imme-
diate neighbourhood.

The place from whence I obtained these sin-
gular relics was a gravel-bank, near Fort Colville,
whilst digging out the nests of sand-martins.
From the way in which the various things were

* Vol. II.

104 CROSSING THE SNAKE EIVEE.

scattered about, their height above the river,
together with many minor matters, induces
me to think the place could never have been used
as a burial-ground. I merely state the fact, in-
cidentally of considerable interest to me,asbearing
on the past history of the North-western tribes.

We left Walla- walla on June 28, en route noTih-
ward, to reach Fort Colville. I resume my
journal : —

July 2. — We are on the bank of the Snake
river, one of the larger tributaries to the Co-
lumbia; the river is 400 yards in width, and
running like a mill-race. There had once been
a ferry, in the shape of a large scow, that was
worked from side to side by a truck-wheel
traversing on an iron wire rope, strained across
the river ; but, unluckily, the rope was broken, so
we had to cross by sailing and paddling the scow,
and a few canoes hired from the Indians. It was
a most wearisome job, as the scow had to be
towed on both sides of the river, far above the
landing she had to reach, in order to compensate
for the swift current. Crossing occupied the
entire day, but success finally crowned our
exertions.

A short distance above where we are crossing
I can see the mouth of the Pelouse river, a 2;ood-

MUSTANG TRAILS. 105

sized stream. The scenery is generally wild and
massive; in every direction immense walls of
rocks shut in the Snake river — bare, black, and
desolate ; not a tree or shrub grows from amidst
their craggy ledges. I am told the course of this
river may be followed for days in some places,
and by no possible means can its waters be
reached, so that one might die from thirst
although on the bank of a river.

One thing struck me as being very remarkable ;
up the steepish ledges of these rocky clifts were
trails, beaten bare as turnpike-roads, and so
numerous that they almost resembled lines on a
railway-map. At first I thought goats must have
made them, but on enquiry I discover the paths
are used by the Indian horses that belonged to the
Pelouse tribe. The mustangs scramble up these
precipitous tracts, to browse on the scanty herbage
that grows in the clefts and on the ledges of the
rocks. The Pelouse Indians were at one time
numerous, predatory, and always at war, but this
once-dreaded tribe has dwindled away to a mere
remnant.

Those that are left exist, rather than live, by
fi&hing, shooting a few birds, and trapping small
animals that frequent the plains and streams
adjacent to their village on the Pelouse. Their

106 FALLS OF THE LOWER PELOUSE.

horses too have nearly all been taken from them,
and the trails intersecting the hills are about the
only records remaining of the herds of mustangs
that once scrambled over their rocky slopes.
Those of the Pelouse Indians I saw were fine
athletic men for savages, but dirty, idle, and
greedy to an unusual degree. Their canoes
are clumsily dug out, and their lodges are made
of rush and bark mats.

July 3. — We make an early start; I leave
the mule-train to follow the course of the
Pelouse river. The stream forces its way for
many miles between vertical walls of basaltic
rock; when standing on the edge of the canon,
I look down at the surging water, 200 feet
below me, and often more ; the faces of the rock •
walls are quite as smooth as if some giant had
hammer-dressed them. I have never seen a
more grand or stranger-looking waterfall than
is this of the Lower Pelouse. The trail I follow
is about a quarter of a mile from the river,
winding in tortuous course between immense
fragments of rock, that completely hide the
country to my left ; ahead, a line of splintered
peaks denotes the course of the river canon •
behind, I gaze back upon the Snake river, and
the stupendous cliffs beetling over its frothy

A GRAND SIGHT. 107

water ; to my right, a grassy slope, smooth and
green as a well-kept lawn, extends for miles,
until lost in the distant haze. A heavy thun-
dering sound directs me to the cataract, which

O '

is at present hidden. 1 walk down the slope, and
unexpectedly reach the edge of a narrow channel,
about thirty feet in width and three hundred in
depth.

Not a hundred yards from where I stand, the
entire river plunges over a vertical face of smooth
rocks ; down it surges a depth of 300 feet, and
possibly more, into the narrow channel into
which I am looking. The singularity of this fall
consists in the extremely narrow channel of
basaltic rock through which the entire river is
obliged to make its way before it dashes down this
wondrous cliff. The river, at least a hundred
feet wide on the plain, is narrowed to about thirty
at the place where it falls over the rocks; hence
the water leaps, if I may so express it, some
distance from the rock on emerging from this
natural launder, and falls vertically into the black
chasm with a deafening roar like perpetual
thunder.

The sun shining brightly lights up the gloomy
chasm, and gives the foaming current a brilliancy
unlike anything I have ever seen — an effect

108 THE GREY- WOLF.

heightened and intensified by contrast. I may
aptly liken it, without any attempt at word-paint-
ing, to a stream of liquid silver flowing through a
channel of jet. As the rays of light mingle with
the spray, that hangs like a dense fog round the
watery column, their prismatic colours are re-
flected from myriads of tiny water-drops, making
fairy rainbows, that dance in mazy clusters from
the base to the summit of the fall. Not a tree
or shrub is anywhere visible, nothing but rock
and water — a scene matchless in its immensity.
I am not so much charmed with the beauty of
this wild landscape, as awed and (if I may so
express it) absorbed and lost in wonder; its
sublime grandeur impresses me with a feeling
that it is something more than earthly.

As I leave the fall, to retrace my steps to where
I have tethered my horse, a large grey wolf sits
eyeing me greedily. Turning from a scene that
made me feel as a diatom might be supposed to
feel in the jaws of a whale, to stand face to face
with a large animal, that would eat me if he
dared, for the moment so startled me, that I
hesitated whether I should avoid my foe or fire
at him ; the latter inclination prevailed. Drop-
ping on one knee, I drew a steady bead upon the
wolf; and ere the crack of the rifle was lost in the

BIG LAKE. 10!)

roar of the water, the beast that had presumed
to intercept my path lay dead amidst the bright-
green grass. The Grey Wolf ( Canis, Yar. ;
Griseo albus, Richardson) grows in North-
western America, when well-fed, to a very large
size; naturally cowardly, it seldom attacks man,
except when driven by hunger. I met with
three species in British Columbia - - the one
just alluded to, the Red Wolf (C. occidentalism
and the ' Cayote' ( C. latraus). The Indians trap
a great many wolves, their skins forming an
important item in the fur-trade. One I brought
home, a grey wolf, obtained at Colville (now in
the British Museum collection) weighed ninety
pounds, although this is not half the weight
they attain on the Buffalo plains.

Found the mule-train and party encamped at
the Upper Pelouse falls — very pretty, but tame
and insignificant after viewing the lower cascade.
Nothing of any interest, as we travel continu-
ously over the same description of sandy treeless
ground. I collected some beetles, most of them
new species, described in the Appendix.

July 6. — We pass a lake called the ' Big Lake,'
why I cannot imagine, as it is only about ten
miles in length, and eleven in width ; altitude,
2,000 feet above the sea-level. In the spring

110 SWANS AND GEESE.

and fall numbers of Indians resort to this lake
to kill wildfowl, that rest on its waters during
their migrations north and south. Swans and
geese are most sought after, the following species
being common : —

AMERICAN SWAN (Cygnus Americanus, Sharp-
less). --This handsome swan is common on all
the lakes and rivers east and west of the
Cascade Mountains. I saw them on the Sumass
lake as late as October, the young at that time
being quite brown; their breeding haunts, I
imagine, are much farther north.

TRUMPETER SWAN (Cygnus bactinator, Rich-
ardson).— This magnificent bird is not nearly a,s
often seen as the preceding. I obtained a
fine specimen at Fort Rupert, and have occa-
sionally seen it both on the Fraser and Columbia
rivers ; they go very far north to breed. The
Indians skin the swans, and trade them with the
Hudson's Bay Company, who buy them for
swan's-down.

SNOW GOOSE (Anser hyperboreus, Pallas).
— Common east and west of the Cascades,
stopping for a short time in the prairies inland,
and the sand-bars along the coast, as it goes north,
and on its returning after the breeding season. I
obtained a fine specimen at Nainimo in October.

A RIGHT-AND-LEFT SHOT. Ill

The Indians kill large numbers of them, and for
the table they certainly excel any of the other
species.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OR LAUGHING GOOSE
(Anser Gambelii, Hartland). — I noticed this sin-
gular goose to be much more abundant on the west
than it is on the eastern side of the Cascades. Im-
mense flocks arrive,' in the spring and fall of the
year, on the Sumass and Chilukweyuk prairies,
resting only a few days to feed ; they are always
in company with Hutchin's Goose. Indians kill
great numbers, by making a kind of lair. They
arch light sticks by fixing the ends in the ground,
just high enough for a man to crawl under, and
about six feet long ; this they cover with grass, to
resemble a mound and rushes ; having crept in,
the Indian lies still until a flock of geese pitch
within shot; then, bowling over as many as he
can, he loads again; the geese just circle round
and pitch as before, and so he continues to fire
until enough are slaughtered ; then out he creeps,
to pick up the dead and wounded.

CANADA GOOSE (Bernicla canadensis}. — Com-
mon east and west of the Cascade Mountains ;
seldom seen but in pairs. In coming down from
Colville to Walla-walla on our return home, in
the beginning of March, I killed two Canada

112 HUTCHINS GOOSE.

geese near the Big Lake, a right-and-left shot.
On opening the female, a fine fully-developed
egg was discovered, the shell quite hard. I blew
it, and it is now in the collection of the British
Museum; that egg, I should imagine, would
have been laid the next day, and must inevitably
have been lost, as they breed much farther
north ; it is a shy, wary bird, but capital eating.

HUTCHIN'S GOOSE. — Bernida Ilutcliinsii, Bonap.
— Very abundant east and west of the Cascades
and on Vancouver Island ; arrives about March,
going north, and returns again in September and
October. Very large flocks feed on the grassy and
swampy ground at the entrance to the Fraser
River, and on the Sumass and Chilukweyuk
prairies. It is also very plentiful in the Colville
valley during the spring and fall. This goose
has a most extended range. Specimens are
recorded from Red River, from Hudson's Bay,
from the Makenzie, from the Saskatchawan ; my
own from British Columbia. I also saw it in
Oregon.

July 7. — It is quite delightful to find oneself
again amidst trees. The Pitch pine (Pinus pon-
derosa) makes its appearance at first in scattered
clumps that soon become a forest, quite devoid
of underbush.

BURNING FLIES. 113

We were positively assured, that once over
the Cascades, there would be no mosquitos.

If we escape the mosquitos, we are amongst
enemies quite as formidable, the Simulium or
sand-fly, and the Tabanus or breeze-fly. Be it
known to you, -ladies, that the males, or gentle-
men sand-flies, brulots of the French- Canadian
trappers, are not blood-suckers, but live on
flowers and sip the honey in indolent enjoyment;
what should have been the gentler sex are like
Dahoniean Amazons, the sanguinary spirits of
the tribe. In size, the sand-fly is not nearly so
large as the mosquito, and, instead of being a
slim, genteel blonde Madame Brulot, is as black as
a Guinea negress — her body is short and dumpy,
her gauzy wings when folded nearly twice the
length of the lady herself, and her legs somewhat
long and slender. Her mouth is not a loveable
one, being a bundle of fearful lancets, the sheath
of which forms a tube through which the blood
is sucked after the barbed stilettoes have done
their work : an icorous fluid is in all probability
instilled with the puncture, hence the intense
irritation arising from the wound.

Where the sand-fly lays her eggs is not, I be-
lieve, very well known, but it is more than likely
that they are deposited on the sterns of aquatic

VOL. II. I

114 A NOVEL LIFEBOAT.

plants, for the larva is easily discovered holding
on to them a little below the surface of the water.
He is a long, round, ugly-looking grub, divided
into twelve segments or rings. The second pair
of feet are prehensile, and used for holding on by.
He is rather active when undisturbed, but the
slightest touch and he hangs by the feet, exactly
resembling then a bit of dead rush. When the
larva has attained its full growth, it spins a small
delicately-fine silken bag, in which it changes to
the pupa state ; this bag is invariably left open at
the top, and, being spun the long way of the
stalk to which it is affixed, the pupa is in an up-
right position, and the head of the pupa protrudes
a little way out of the bag. Four hair-like fila-
ments, like horns, project from the head of the
pupa, and are supposed to be breathing organs.
About the end of June the delicate little fly bursts
from its sarcophagus, and prepares for an aerial
existence; and a contrivance utterly different
from the mosquito boat, yet equally beautiful
and effective, aids the newly-liberated captive to
escape being drowned. Maturity attained, the
pupa-case splits down the back, and the end of
the silken bag being open, out creeps the fly,
not into the water, but into a minute silken
balloon, a part of the pupa-case, or, I imagine, the

DISAGREEABLE WALTZERS. 11/5

lining of it. Loose from its moorings, steadily the
balloon ascends through the water with its living
freight. On reaching the surface, the fly breaks
through its slender walls, spreads its wings, and
with a hum of delight, away goes Brulot to revel
in the sunshine amidst the leaves and flowers. I
may as well describe this day's journey, the
misery of which I shall never forget.

Flowers in wild profusion peep up in myriads
from among the green bunch-grass ; the birds are
busy in every tree and bush — some building nests,
others feeding their little ones. The air, heavily
laden with perfume, seems too idle to move ; and
the great striped humble-bees, as they tumble
from flower to flower, buzz a drowsy song of
satisfaction. Very enjoyable but for the clouds of
sand-flies that the mules and horses composing
our pack-train stir up from the grass at every step,
and, as if the flies have been accustomed to regale
themselves daily on the blood of man and beast,
at once cover the animals so thickly that they look
almost black. Kicking, plunging, and even rolling
on the grass avails not, to rid the tortured beasts
from their assailants. Unlike the bite of a mos-
quito, that left only an irritable lump, blood
flows from every puncture made by the terrible
lancets. They waltz round my head like a

I 2

116 THE FATE OF JOHNSON.

swarm of bees, and but for a net veil I luckily
have with me, my face would be savagely attacked
and my skin rapidly converted into a kind of
wire gauze. I pick, as do each of the packers
accompanying me, large bunches of leafy twigs,
and whirling them round and round, strive,
though vainly, to sweep the vexatious intruders
away. My heart is really grieved to see the .
poor suffering animals — obliged, spite of every
effort of tail, legs, and ears, to bear the torture
without even the proverbial relief of a ' grin.'
One good little mule, we call him Johnson (that
being the name of his late master), grows fagged,
as mules very frequently do, and when in that
condition neither force nor persuasion is of the
slightest use to induce them, to ' move on : ' all
you can do is to unpack and distribute the load
amongst the other mules, leaving the tired animal
on the trail. After camping and supper over, a
packer rides back after the missing mule, and
usually has no difficulty in bringing him into
camp. Poor Johnson is unpacked and left on
the trail, and as we camp very soon after leaving
him, two packers at once go in pursuit. Short,
however, as the time and distance are, it is
with immense trouble they slowly get him into
camp. Such a pitiable sight as the poor beast

THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM OFF. 117

presents I never beheld, covered literally and
truly from head to heel with sand-flies. Each of
these little harpies looks pink. Their skins,
stretched to a state of transparency, reveals the
colour of the fluid they are gorged with. You
would not know that it was a mule if you
stumbled by accident on it, so fearfully is poor
Johnson swollen from the poisoned punctures.
We did all we could to relieve his sufferings, lit
a fire, and smoked off the flies, washed and greased
him, but all to no purpose. About two hours
after he was brought in, he died. Who would
have dreamed such pigmies could kill a powerful
mule in two or three hours !

The only plan of protecting yourself and your
animals is to light large smouldering fires so as
to produce voluminous clouds of smoke. This
the brulots are unable to stand ; the poor animals
know it, and crowd round the smoking embers,
hustling one another in their anxiety to be the
nearest. The Indians all adopt this method, and
wherever Indian horses are grazing in summer
time, immense fallen trees that are sufficiently
dry to burn are lighted from end to end, and round
these all day long the horses crowd. At night the
sand-flies give but little trouble, and, like sensible
insects, take a few hours' repose. Most appro-

1 18 BREEZE-FLY.

priately were they named 'burning flies,' for,
wherever they thrust in the lancet, it is just as
though a brad-awl needle had been bored slowly
into one's flesh. They continue the summer
through until September, but luckily are con-
fined to particular districts. Sandy soil, and lots
of water, are the essential elements conducive
to their welfare and multiplication. Bad as these
burning flies are, I still maintain Madam Mos-
quito is far the worst. The Ladies Brulot do in-
dulge in a short repose, but Mistress Mosquito, I
believe, never winks her eyes, and is always on
the move.

By Breeze-fly I mean flies belonging to the
genus Tabanus, not those of the genus (Estrus,
with which they are frequently confounded. The
latter — commonly called Bot-fly, which is also a
terrible pest, alike avoided by both horse and
ruminant — deposits its eggs sometimes on the
hair, and sometimes underneath the skin ; hence
animals, guided by a natural instinct, or having
been the victims of a past and painful expe-
rience, all at the sound of his dreaded trumpet
make the best of their way to the nearest water,
into which they plunge.

On the contrary, in the Breeze-fly we have to
do with a veritable blood-sucker, more ravenous

THE CLARION SHRILL. 119

than would be any winged leech. There are
three species, all three by far too plentiful for
the comfort of either man or beast, and widely
distributed in North-west America. These
insects have an apparent ubiquity, and are
literally everywhere. Ascend to the regions of
eternal snow, there are hungry Breeze-flies
awaiting one's arrival; by the rushing torrent,
on the shores of the placid lake, under the deep
damp shadows of the pine-trees, or on the open
flower-decked prairie, there are sure to be
Breeze-flies. One barely hears the sound of its
' clarion shrill ' and hum of the rapidly-vibrating
wings, ere one feels a sharp prick, as though a
red-hot needle had been thrust into the flesh ;
stab follows stab in quick succession, and unless
active measures of defence be resorted to, the
skin speedily assumes the form of a sieve.

The horses and mules give immediate notice
of the enemy by viciously throwing up their heads
and heels, snorting, and, very possibly, indeed I
may say generally, summarily discharging their
loads, be they human or baggage, over their
heads. Whether success attends this disagreeable
habit or not, in any case a hasty retreat is made
for the nearest water, where both man and beast
well know the Breeze-fly seldom or never follows.

120 THE LADY BREEZE-FLY.

I have frequently seen a train of pack-mules com-
pletely scattered by these formidable pests.

The largest and fiercest is the Black Breeze-
fly (Tabanus atratus). His body is like glossy
black velvet, frosted over with a delicate white
bloom, like a freshly-gathered Orleans plum ;
it is about an inch in length; the wings, like
pale blue gauze, when at rest are always kept
in a horizontal position; the alulets are large
and strong. The eyes are exquisitely beautiful,
in colour dark-blue, but glittering with the lustre
of highly-polished gems, and nearly covering the
entire head.

The next in size is the Belted Breeze-fly
(Tabanus cinctus\ about one- third smaller than
his sable brother. He is clad in bright orange
livery, banded with stripes almost black; and
has a most showy appearance, being decidedly the
best dressed fly of the family. The eyes are
emerald green, and, when viewed in the bright
sunlight, have the appearance of being cut into
numerous facets.

The third or smallest is the Lined Breeze-fly
( Tabanus lineatus}, of a bluish colour, and marked
only with a white line along the top of the head.
In this fly the eyes are of bluish-green, and
uuite as beautiful as in the two preceding.

NOT KISSABLE. 121

The Lady Breeze-fly, I am grieved to say, is
far more to be dreaded than her lord. These
insects can never, one would suppose, enjoy the
luxury and delight, or whatever may be the
proper term applicable to such a universal habit
as kissing. How could a winged lady, I should
like to know, be kissed by a winged wooer when
her lips are a bundle of lancets, six in number,
and as sharp as a surgeon's? True the male has
four blade-like instruments arming the mouth,
but it is questionable whether he uses them for
other purposes than that of sucking nectar from
flowers. The apparatus of the female is beau-
tifully adapted for puncturing the skin and then
pumping up the fluid through the sheath of the
lancets, that acts as a tube or canula. It would
be of trifling interest to advert more in detail
to the minute anatomy of these insects; that
can be better learned from works on structural
entomology ; the habits of the insect in far-
away lands, sketched from personal gleanings,
being more strictly my province. The rambler
alone has an opportunity to investigate the
haunts and watch the habits of strange beasts,
birds, and insects ; to the anatomist, at home
in cosy closet, belongs the task of developing,
with scalpel and microscope, the complicated

122 THE LARVA FORM.

machinery by which life's varied duties are car-
ried on.

The larva lives in the earth, a grub easily dug
up in the moist prairie lands ; of an elongated
sub-cylindrical form, tapering off towards each
extremity ; its colour a dingy yellow ; destitute
of feet; having a body divided into twelve
segments, each segment being banded with a row
of minute horny hooks — an admirable con-
trivance, enabling it to drag itself along through
the earth. The head is horny, and brownish-
yellow in colour, also armed with hooks to aid in
progression. The pupa I have never seen, but
De Geer tells us the pupa of Tab anus bovinus is
'naked, incomplete, elongated, sub-cylindrical,
with six spines at the end of the body, the
margins of the abdominal segments ciliated,
and the forehead bi-tubercled.'

Where or when the eggs of the Tabanidce are
deposited is not generally known, but it is more
than probable on the stems of plants, to which
they are fastened by a glutinous secretion; the
grub, when hatched, falling on the ground, at
once buries itself. Neither is it known how long
a time the larva remains in the earth ere it
changes to the pupa form.

I remember once being busily occupied all

A FORCIBLE EJECTMENT. 123

day collecting beetles and other insects in the
dense, shady pine forests, close to a small stream
called the Selece, that flows down the western
slope of the Cascade mountains : boxes, bottles,
bags, even my hat, indeed every available locality
about my person was appropriated to the stowage
and transport of the proceeds of my hunt. My
mustang had been tethered close to the water, and
had thus kept clear of the Breeze-flies during my
absence ; soon, however, after mounting him to
return, emerging from the forest, I came on a
small patch of open prairie land, but no sooner
was I clear of the timber than the pests were at
us. My beast commenced practising every
species of jump and leap that it was possible for
a horse to execute, and several of them of a nature
so extraordinary that one would have thought no
animal that ever went on four legs could a.com-
plish ; he pranced, shied, kicked, leaped forward,
backward, sideways — in a word, performed such
demoniacal pranks, that, although a practised
horseman, I found it a most difficult matter to
keep my seat. As a finale, off he went like a
mad creature, caring nothing for all my efforts
to stop him : then, as if from sheer madness caused
by the punctures of the flies, that followed like a
swarm of enraged bees, he stopped suddenly short,

124 PROBABLY THE ZIMB.

viciously threw his head between his forelegs,
and at the same time elevated his hind ones into
the air ; the whole being performed with such
sudden and savage violence that I was pitched
clean out of the saddle : boxes, bottles, bags, to-

' O 7

gether with all my insect treasures, lay scattered
over the prairie, and ere I could regain my feet I
had the satisfaction of seeing him put his legs
into the bridle-reins, drag it clean off his head,
and, with a snort that sounded mightily like a
derisive horse laugh, he galloped off, leaving me
to my own devices. I mention this little adven-
ture to show how terribly these pests can madden
an animal.

From an intimacy by no means sought, or on
my part cultivated, with the Tdbanidce, or Breeze-
flies, I am disposed to think the fly called Zimb,
and described by Bruce, belonged to this family,
and was not an CEstrus, as many have supposed.
Speaking of the Zimb, in reference to the camel
and elephant : ' When the first of these animals
are attacked, its body, head, and legs break out
into large bosses, which swell, burst and putrefy,
to its certain destruction.' Just such effects have
I again and again seen amongst horses and mules.
One mule we had to abandon on the prairie (a
disabled foot preventing its travelling any farther)

A FOREST OF HORNS. ]25

was, when we returned for it, so stung by the
Breeze-flies as to be one mass of small ichorous
ulcers from head to hoofs; so pitiable was the
poor beast's plight, its injured limb having pre-
cluded all chance of escape from the flies, that, as
a mere matter of humanity, it was at once shot.
I have also frequently seen tethered horses so
injured by the punctures of the Breeze-fly as to
be rendered useless for many months. Their
favourite places for puncturing are on the front
of the chest — where the saddle goes, — and inside
the thighs. If a man were tied or otherwise
disabled, so that all chance of beating off or
escaping from the Breeze-fly was out of his power,
I have no hesitation in asserting my firm convic-
tion that they would rapidly kill him.

The Belted Breeze-fly is most abundant, a lady
charmingly dressed in orange flounced with black,
very attractive when you see her sunning herself
amid the petals of some prairie flower, but a closer
acquaintance destroys the charm, as she soon
lets you feel her power of wounding.

Travelling in Oregon one constantly finds one's-
self on the banks of a wide glassy lake ; gazing
over its unrippled surface, the eye suddenly rests
on what, to the inexperienced in hunter's craft,
appears to be small clumps of twisted branches,

126 CLARK'S CROW.

or dead and leafless tree-tops, the trunks of which
are hidden in the water; but the Indian and 'trap-
per' discerns in a second that the apparent
branches are the antlers of a herd of Wapiti that
have been driven into the water by Breeze-flies.
Wild cattle seek a like means of protecting them-
selves against such terrible foes : a perfect forest
of horns may frequently be witnessed in a pool,
but not a vestige of the bullocks, save their noses,
kept above water for the purpose of breathing.

For the first time I notice that singular bird
CLARK'S CROW, Picicorvus Columbianus (Bon.),
hopping busily from branch to branch amidst the
pine trees.

Wilson, in his 'American Ornithology,' in giving
a brief notice of this bird, says : ' It is remarkable
for its formidable claws, which approach to those
of the Falco genus, and would seem to intimate
that its food consists of living animals, for whose
destruction these weapons must be necessary. It
inhabits the shores of the Columbia, frequenting
the rivers and sea-shore, probably feeding on
fish.' There never could have been a greater
mistake; the bird never frequents the river
banks, never by any chance eats fish, and would
no more attempt the capture of other living
things than would a turtle-dove or a canary-bird.

CEOWBAE VEESUS CEOSS-BILL. 127

Its habits are strictly arboreal, its food the seeds
of the pine-trees. Watching a flock of these
busy, noisy seed-hunters, one notices at a glance
how curiously they hang on to the cones; and
five minutes' observation tells you what the claws,
so falcon-like in appearance, are for better than
a month's guessing.

Clark's ' crows ' have, like the cross-bills, to get
out the seeds from underneath the scaly cover-
ings constituting the outward side of a fir cone ;
nature has not given them crossed-mandibles to
lever open the scales, but instead, feet and claws
that serve the purpose of hands, and apowerful bill,
like a small crowbar. To use the crowbar to advan-
tage, the cone needs steadying, or it would snap
at the stem and fall ; to accomplish this, one foot
clasps it, and the powerful claws hold it firmly,
whilst the other foot, encircling the branch, sup-
ports the bird, either back downward, head down-
ward, on its side, or upright like a woodpecker, the
long grasping claws being equal to any emergency :
the cone thus fixed and a firm hold maintained
on the branch, the seeds are gouged out from
under the scales. I have now a large packet of
seeds, some of which have been grown (the
seeds of Abies Dovglassii), that I cut from the
crops of ' Clark's Crows ; ' indeed it is next to

128 NEST OF ' CLARK' S CROW.'

impossible to obtain the seeds of some of the very
tall pines in any other way, a cruel system of col-
lecting I should ever discountenance, if the poor
birds were sacrificed merely with the hope of ob-
taining seeds from their crops. Those killed
were for specimens to bring home. A few win-
ter in British Columbia, but the larger propor-
tion go southward in September. On their
arrival in May, or early in June, they assemble
in immense flocks, and so terribly loud is the
noise they make, that you can hardly hear the
sound of your own or others' voice ; a most dis-
cordant, continuous, grating clatter, intensified
at times into a perfect shriek. These assemblies
only last about a week, during which time the
wooing is done, and marriages celebrated, the
favoured birds getting such fair ones as they
choose, the less fortunate such as they can.

The pairs then depart, to perform the all-im-
portant duties of nesting. The nest I saw (I
never succeeded in finding more than one) was
in the top of a lofty pine-tree, at least 200 feet
high ; the tree was felled in cutting the Boundary
line, and by chance I discovered the nest. The
eggs were of course smashed to atoms, but the
old birds hovered round and even perched
on the ruins of their nursery, leaving no

A SMASHED NURSERY. 129

doubt about its being the nest of ' Clark's
Crow.'

The nest was very large, and composed of fir-
twigs, bits of bark, the bracts or leaves of the
pine, and fine root-fibres ; some small pieces of
moss and grey lichen were mixed carelessly with
the other materials. The shape was difficult to
make out, as the crash of the falling tree had
damaged it considerably ; but I should say it was
shallow, round, and presenting a large extent of
surface beyond the margins of the hollow con-
taining the eggs. The remains of about four eggs
were, I should think, scattered round, the frag-
ments much like the eggs of Steller's Jay in
colour, but of a lighter shade of bluish -green.
From the fact of my never by any chance finding
a nest low down, I imagine their habit is always
to build in the very tallest pines. West of the
Cascades I believe it is unknown, that ridge of
mountains being its boundary northward. Its
size is about that of a pigeon; length 12 inches,
wing 7^, tail 4|, tarsus 1^. Colour, bluish-ash,
lighter on the forehead and round the eyes.
Wings nearly black, with a shade of green over-
spreading it. Secondaries and tertials (except
the innermost) tipped broadly with white; tail'
white, the inner webs of the fifth and the whole

VOL. n. K

130 GROUND-SQUIRRELS.

of the sixth feather black. Tail-coverts same
colour as wings.

July 8. — After crossing a very high ridge we
look suddenly down into the valley of the Spokan
river. The river has a very rapid flow, and
where we ferry it, in a scow worked by a rope
from side to side, it is about 150 yards wide. The
charge for crossing was, I think, a dollar (45.) per
head for packed mules ; the cattle swam it.

We camp on a grassy flat, known as Walker's
Prairie, a few miles from the ferry, where a
solitary settler keeps a rough kind of inn. I
wander across the prairie, and am amused with
the freaks of the ground-squirrels (Spermophilus
Parryi, Richardson) ; they live in burrows dug
in all directions into mounds, which mounds, I
think, are not made by the squirrels. By keeping
still I soon saw numbers of them emerge from
their holes, chase one another round the hillock,
up one side, down the other, as if they were occu-
pied in playing some game fashionable in squirrel-
dom. If I move or otherwise make my presence
known, shrill whistles oft repeated warn the as-
semblage that danger is at hand ; each at once
makes for its hole and disappears. In coming
from out their burrows, their habit is to sit upon
their haunches at the entrance, and with their tiny

PARKMAN'S WREN. 131

forefeet brush the whiskers, ears, eyes, and head
in general, I suppose, to remove particles of dirt

•

accumulated in passing through the tunnel.

It is curious to note how three species of
ground-squirrels have replaced each other in
accordance with the change of vegetation in our
transit from the Dalles to where we are now en-
camped.

At the Dalles we saw SpermopTiilus Douglassii,
the Columbia Ground Squirrel (described in
vol. i.), extending only as far as the scrub-oak
grew, the Fall river being its boundary going
north towards Colville.

Betwixt the Fall river and the Spokan, inhabi-
ting the sandy and woodless plains, Richardson's
Ground Squirrel (S. Richardsonii, Cuv.) is alone
found. After crossing the Spokan and getting
into the timbered regions, the ground-squirrel I
have been looking at takes its place, and extends
from the Spokan to the slopes of the Rocky
Mountains.

July 9. — To-day we have a charming drive
through grass and open timbered land, like a
succession of beautiful parks. Cross several
small streams, icy cold, but clear as crystal.
By these rivulets I noticed Parkman's Wren
(Troglodytes Parkmannii, Aud.).

K 2

132 SLENDER-BILL NUTHATCH.

It is difficult to watch its movements, so
diminutive is it in size, and yet so quick withal.
The mellow song of the wrens se'ems almost
like fairy music ; and sounds so delicately sweet
appear to be out of place amidst such giant
trees.

The nest is in shape like that of our house-
hold pets, built against a dead stump, or in the
deep clefts in the bark of a pine-tree which are
often taken advantage of, to act as lateral walls.
Its skill in imitating the colour and appearance of
the bark is perfectly wonderful : even when one
has watched the bird go in, it is most difficult to
make out that it is a nest and not real bark;
take the eye off the spot but an instant, and
goodbye to finding the nest again, except the
birds go in and out. They build in June, six
or seven eggs being generally laid, and arrive
about the middle of May, leaving in September,
young and old together.

Nuthatches were busy in nearly every pine-
tree, with their constant companions the restless
tits. The three species common in the forests
east of the Cascades are : —

THE SLENDER-BILL NUTHATCH (Sitta aculeata,
Cassin). — This nuthatch is very abundant in
the pine-forests from the coast .to the Rocky

CALIFORNIA NUTHATCH. 13.3

Mountains; never seen in large flocks, but
usually alone, or in twos and threes. Remained
about Colville during the winter, when the
temperature was 30° below zero. Nests in holes
in the branches of the tallest pine-trees, so high
as to render getting the eggs almost an im-
possibility. They nest early in June.

RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis,
Linn.). — Very common on Vancouver Island
and on the Sumass prairies, but rather a rare
bird between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains.
I have seldom seen more than one or two
together, and then generally in dark swampy
places. Nests in holes in dead trees ; eggs laid
on the dust made in working out the hole.

CALIFORNIA NUTHATCH. (Sitta pygmcea,
Vigors). — An abundant little bird along the
entire length of the Boundary-line from the coast
to the Rocky Mountains, also common on Van-
couver Island : you always see these little fellows
in large flocks in company with the Chickadees,
except during the nesting-time, which is in
June. A few remain about Colville during the
winter, but the greater portion leave in November.

These most active birds are always on the
move ; after nesting-time they congregate in
large flocks, and, rejoining their companions the

134 THE TITMOUSE.

tits and golden-crests, fly on without any ap-
parent care as to direction — constantly flitting
from tree to tree, twittering a low sweet note, as if
singing to themselves — sometimes climbing back
downwards along the under-sides of the topmost
branches of the tall pines, peering into every
crevice for insect-hiders ; at others, descending to
the ground, they cling to the slender flower-
stalks to catch drowsy insects, sipping the sweets
stored in these perfumed drinking-places.

They nest in June, making a hole in the dead
branch of a pine-tree ; there is no lining in the
hole, but the eggs are laid on the dust made in
enlarging or boring it. Eggs in British Museum
collection from Colville. They range northward
to Fort Simpson, and southward through Oregon
and California. This applies to all three species.

The following four species represent the
Tits : —

WESTERN TITMOUSE (Parus occidentalis.,
Baird). — Common on Vancouver Island and
along the whole course of the Boundary line to
the summit of the Rocky Mountains. A few
remain during the winter at Colville, but the
greater portion leave in November and arrive
again in April; they nest in June, choosing a
hole in a dead tree ; line the nest with grass and

THE c DEAD MAN'S PRAIRIE.' 135

feathers; after the nesting-time they assemble
in large flocks, and feed in company with the
Mountain Tit and the Golden-crested Wrens,
then keep together until they take their depar-
ture south.

MOUNTAIN TITMOUSE (Parus montanus,
Gambel). — This bird has just the same range
and distribution as the preceding, and agrees
with it in habit, periods of migration, and nesting
time, but it is not nearly so plentiful.

CHESTNUT-BACKED TITMOUSE (Parus ru/escens,
Townsend). — This little fellow is very abundant
on the Sumass prairies, and along the Fraser
river, but rare between the Cascades and Rocky
Mountains. I met with it at Colville, in company
with a flock of Golden- crested Wrens, and once
at Syniakwateen ; hence I am disposed to think it
is more common along the coast-line than in the
interior. It arrives in May, and leaves again in
September. I never found its nest. The nor-
thern range of these tits is about lat. 53° N., and
south through Oregon and California.

LEAST TIT (Psaltriparus minimus, Bonap.).

I saw this tiny tit but twice, at Sumass

prairie and on the Nesqually plains, but had no
opportunities to observe its habits. I expect it
is more plentiful than one would imagine; its

13n ARRIVAL AT FORT COLVILLE.

small size, and habit of hiding in thick brush,
renders it extremely difficult to find.

We camp at a place called 'Dead Man's Prairie.'
Three roughly-made crosses denote the graves
of three men, who (so the story goes) lost their
way on this prairie, and having no provisions,
dus; roots to live on; but not knowing the edible

O ' tj

from the poisonous varieties, ate some bulbs that
killed all three of them; their bodies were
discovered and buried, and the place has been
named Dead Man's Prairie ever since.

From this not very cheering spot we follow up
the Colville valley, pass by some very good farms,
where excellent grain and vegetables are grown;
and on the 12th reach our destination, Fort Col-
ville, already described in vol. i., in the chapter
on Salmon Fishing at the Kettle Falls (page 71).

COLVILLE VALLEY. 137

CHAPTER VII.

THE COLVILLE VALLEY OUR HEADQUARTERS — THE WHITE-BELLIED
SWALLOW - - CLIFF SWALLOW BANK SWALLOW - - ROUGH-
WINGED SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW AND ITS STRANGE NEST-
ING-PLACE VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW WESTERN MEADOW

LARK - - TOWNSEND'S FLYCATCHER -- AMERICAN RAVENS -
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE — BREWER'S BLACKBIRD OR WESTERN

GRACKLE OR CANADA VAY WHISKY JACK LESSER REDPOLE

— THE LAZULI FINCH — OREGON GROUND ROBIN — GREY-
CROWNED FINCH.

THE United States Boundary Commission were
stationed about eighteen miles from the Hudson's
Bay Company's fort. It would be of little in-
terest to recount the building of our log-quarters,
stowing provisions, and completing all the re-
quisite arrangements for the coming winter. It
will suffice to say, all was satisfactorily arranged,
and ample provision made for the commissariat
of both men and animals.

Colville valley, in which we erected our head-
quarters, does not belong to British Columbia,
but is in American territory. There was no

138 HEADQUARTERS.

other place north of the Boundary line, as it
passes the Columbia, so well suited for the
purposes of the Commission as this valley — hence
the Commissioner fixed on it as our headquarters.
It was a glorious place for birds: which were
in great force. All my notes on the habits of
the different species of birds I observed, shot, and
brought home, would fill a ponderous volume ;
the full list of species is given in the Appendix.
For special description a few groups are selected,
whose habits are not generally known, or which
vary in accordance with local modifying causes-
matters always interesting to the general reader
as well as to the naturalist. Swallows are always
in great abundance, arriving from southward
when the insects make their appearance.

THE WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW (Hirundo bi-
cofor,Vieillot) is one of the most abundant species
visiting Vancouver Island and British Columbia,
reaching an altitude, on the Cascades and Rocky
Mountains, of 7,000 feet above the sea-level.
Its favourite hawking-grounds are the open
prairies, or round the margin and over the
surfaces of lakes, large and small.

Unlike the species next described, this swallow
always builds its nest in dead willow or cotton-
wood trees, and lines it with ducks' feathers.

CLIFF SWALLOW. 139

I am quite sure these swallows dig a hole in the
solid tree, a feat their soft beaks appear hardly
fitted for, inasmuch as I saw one begun and
finished at the Sumass prairie, where great
numbers of swallows annually resort to build,
finding there an abundance of the favourite soft

e>

willow- wood.

CLIFF SWALLOW (Hirundo lunifrons, Say).
— I never saw this bird on the west side of the
Cascades, but it is very abundant between the
Cascades and Rocky Mountains. Arrives at
Colville in May and June, in immense flocks. On
arriving they at once fix on some steep rock with
an exposed surface ; days and days are spent in
whirling round and round this intended building -
site, chattering, and clearly having warm and
angry debates, about the summer labour; they at
last adjust all preliminary arrangements, then
set to work in earnest.

Cliff-swallows are the most sociable of birds, and
work together in hundreds, side by side, on Very
amicable terms. The nests are made of mud ; in
shape like a retort, with long narrow neck like a
chimney, which the birds creep through to reach
the globular nest ; this neck is artfully bent, to
prevent the eggs or young from falling out. A
form of nest clearly designed to prevent the ac-

140 BANK SWALLOW.

cess of wet, and act as a safeguard against the de-
predations of birds of prey, a highly necessary
precaution ; the nest, placed 011 a bare surface of
rock, unsheltered by even a leaf, is visible to every
passing plunderer ; and further, its form shades
the sitting bird from the intense heat of the sun.

Frequently fifteen or twenty nests are piled
on one another, their long- tubular mud entrances
sticking out in all directions. It is a pretty
sight in a houseless country to watch these fea-
thered masons, always suggestive of home, and
the familiar martin, that builds its mud-nurseries
under the eaves of our residences, recalling sad
though pleasant memories of friends far away,
perhaps, like I am, watching the mason-birds.

After nesting-time they abandon the rock with
their families, and scatter over the prairies, reas-
sembling, prior to their final start for the south,
in September; the nesting-time is in June, five
eggs being usually the number laid.

BANK SWALLOW (Cotyle riparia, Boir). —
These arrive at Colville in May and June, but
somewhat earlier along the coast and at Van-
couver Island. They are widely distributed, and
generally frequent the larger river-banks. On
their first arrival they assemble in immense num-
bers, sometimes so completely covering a dead

BARN SWALLOW. 141

tree as to stand on one another for lack of room;
then they pair, and make their nests in sand-
banks, digging about fifteen or twenty inches in ;
line the hole with grass and the fronds of the
pine-tree. They leave again in September.
Lay four or five eggs.

ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Cotyle serripennis,
Bonap.). — This swallow arrives about the same
time as the sand-martin, and has much the
same habits and distribution, but differs in
its choice of nesting-place. Like the woodpecker,
this bird either makes a hole in a dead pine-
tree, or, taking possession of one already made
therein, builds a nest of feathers and deer-hairs,
lays four or five eggs, and fetches out its brood in
July. The eggs are most difficult to obtain, the
trees selected for nesting being usually too rotten
to climb.

BAEN SWALLOWS (Hirundo horreorum, Bar-
ton) are common on Vancouver Island, and on
both sides of the Cascade Mountains. They
arrive at Colville in May and June, and build
either under a ledge of rock, or in an old out-
building, if such can be found.

Whilst at our depot at Syniakwateen (vide
illustration in Volume I.) a solitary pair of
barn-swallows paid us a visit. A small shanty

142 SELECTING A SITE.

stood a short distance from the log-huts,
loosely built with poles, and shingled over to
keep out the rain, in which our two black-
smiths were always at work. Early on a sum-
mer morning, towards the end of June, my
attention was directed to two barn -swallows
perched on the roof of the little shed. They did
not exhibit the slightest fear or alarm, although
the bellows snorted and wheezed, and sent my-
riads of brilliant sparks from the crackling char-
coal dancing into the air; whilst the hammer,
plied by a lusty arm, rang a merry peal as it
smote the ruddy iron. Presently off they flew,
and circling round entered the house, and care-
fully examined the poles supporting the roof.
Perching on them here and there, they felt
the surface with their beaks, then twittered in
the most excited manner to each other. This
system of selecting a site was repeated several
times, until the question was evidently settled
and decided upon.

The following day the foundation-stone was
laid, a tiny bit of mud being affixed to the beam
just over the anvil; and although the hammer
constantly passed close to the birds and their
building, still they went steadily on with their
work. In about three days the nest began to

THE NEST. 143

assume a rough • outline of what its form was
eventually to be; its shape, when completed,
being very like the half of a teacup stuck against
a wall. Being curious to see from whence they
procured their building materials, I tracked them
to the edge of the stream, where, on a tiny kind
of beach, they worked up the clay and fine sand
into mortar with their delicate beaks. For days
these feathered architects, with unwearying pa-
tience, journeyed to and from the brick-field,
making their own bricks, carrying them home,
and carefully laying them.

The house is built; and next to furnish it.
First of all, minute bits of soft dry grass were
brought, and laid on the bottom, and round the
rough walls ; this occupied about two days ; then
excursions had to be made along the banks of
the stream, where ducks' feathers and bits of
goose-clown were picked up, brought home, and
neatly deposited on the grass lining, until the
inside was made as smooth and soft as an eider-
down pillow. The trustful couple knew no fear.
I frequently stood on a log to watch them, their
feathers touching my face as they toiled at their
brickwork — twisting, shaping, fitting, and gluing
the bricks together with an adhesive salivary
secretion.

144 THE FLEDGLINGS.

Three days after the work was completed, the
first egg was laid, and then one on every second
day, until five were in the nest, and the process
of incubation commenced. As far as I could
observe, the eggs were never uncovered. The
hen-bird sat by far the greater part of the tune,
but, on her leaving the nest to feed, the male
invariably took her place. In time, five infant
swallows — that, to perpetrate a pun, were veri-
tably all swallow — gaped greedily for food. Hard
the couple toiled, to feed their hungry family. As
the little ones grew and thrived, their residence
was too small to hold them; a daring spirit came
with their feathers, and, becoming strong, they
made rash attempts to scramble out on the edge
of the nest, and there, in the most unsteady
manner, to balance themselves until angrily
knocked in again on the return of the old birds.

At last they abandoned their nursery, and
three succeeded in getting upon the pole to which
the nest was attached, and two fell on the floor ;
and what might have been their fate I do not
know, if the old Yulcans had not picked them up
and placed them with their brethren. A few
days' training taught the fledglings the use of their
wings; then taking their departure from the
shanty, the family started to brave the perils of

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. 145

the world. Where white man's foot had never
trodden before — in the solitude of a primeval
forest, in a rough shanty formed by human hands,
where the roaring bellows and clanging hammer
kept chorus all day long — there two swallows,
trusting that man would harm them not, erected
their mansion, watched and reared their children.
Where they would have built their house had not
man's handiwork provided them with a site, I
hardly know. I never but once again saw this
swallow's nest, and this was built under a bridge
we made across a small stream. I suppose they
must find old caverns or holes in the rocks, for,
being an open nest, it must be sheltered from the
rain.

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Hirundo Thallas-
sina, Swainson).- - This beautiful swallow is
common from the coast, along the entire course
of the Boundary-line, to the summit of the
Rocky Mountains. They are amongst the earliest
visitors at Colville, arriving in small flocks in
March, but in greater numbers in May and
June. They build in June, making their nests
in holes in dead trees, as high as they can get, and
lay four or five eggs. The nest is made of
feathers and soft hair. I am pretty sure their
nesting-holes are excavated in the soft wood bv

•/

VOL. II. L

146 WESTEKN MEADOW LARK.

themselves ; although their soft purple beak ap-
pears ill-adapted to perform such labour, although
the wood, being soft from decay, easily crumbles.
They assemble in large flocks before migrating
in September.

WESTERN MEADOW LARK (Sturnetta neglecta,
Aud.). — After being shut up, and closely impri-
soned by the bitter cold and deep snows of a
North-western winter, one hails with delight the
first heralds, announcing the prospect of speedy
relief — sunshine and summer. The meadow-
larks (or starlings, more correctly) are amongst the
earliest arrivals, making their appearance in the
interior of British Columbia, before the snow has
begun to thaw even from the roofs of the log-huts.

Their custom, on first arriving, is to sit on the
extreme tops of the sprays that project above
the snow. The brilliant golden-yellow, decking
their breasts, and the rich browns on the back
and wings, are in such vivid contrast with the
intense white on every side, that one is almost
tempted to imagine some magi's hand had con-
jured gorgeous blossoms on the leafless sticks;
until the mellow plaintive songs, pealing over the
wintry waste, tells you that life is there, with
hope and confidence in coming events. Leaves,
flowers, grass, insects, all are missing, still the

FLYCATCHER. 147

birds know they are sure to come ; their instincts
are true, and so they patiently await the change
from bleak winter to genial spring, as joyous as
if they had not quitted the sunny south.

The nest is made, in a very careless manner, on
the open prairie: a hollow is selected (the foot-
print of a deer generally), in a sloping bank or
knoll, and filled with dry grass-stalks, not woven
together but laid one on another, like hens' nests
are made with straw ; sometimes, though not
invariably, a few hairs are laid on the grass-
stalks, but with no attempt at definite arrange-
ment. Five or six eggs are laid early in June ;
after nesting, young and old flock together, until
their departure in September. They are generally
distributed throughout British Columbia, extend-
ing north to Sitka, and farther for aught I know ;
they are plentiful also on Vancouver Island, and
on all the islands in the Gulf of Georgia.

TOWNSEND'S FLYCATCHER (Myiadestes Town-
sendii, Cabanis). — I met with these rare birds
once only, and then at Colville. It was towards the
end of November ; deep snow was on the ground,
all the leaves had fallen, and the cold was intense.
My attention was first attracted by hearing a low
sweet song, not unlike that of our English song--

<_>' O O

thrush, which at this time of year was a most

L 2

148 AMERICAN RAVEN.

unusual sound. On looking round, I saw about
twenty of these birds perched on the top sprays
of some white-thorn bushes. In their mode of
darting off and returning again to the spray,
they put me in mind of the shrike. I shot six
of them, and could detect no material difference
in plumage between males and females ; in the
stomachs of those I opened were the remains of
some small coleopterous insects and a few haws.
They left the next day, and I never saw them

again.

AMERICAN RAVENS (Corvus carnivorus, Bar-
tram). — Ravens are distributed all over North-
western America, in every part of British
Columbia, from the Rocky Mountains to the sea-
coast — on Vancouver Island, and all the others in
the Gulf of Georgia. In the forests by the rivers
and lakes, on the prairies or in the swamps,
ravens are always in waiting, to demolish anything
they can find dead, or to slay the weak and helpless.
Their migration is simply from the inland, dur-
ing winter, to the seacoast. A dozen or two

O '

remained at oar headquarters at Colville during
the winter, contrary to their habits — induced to
linger in order to feed on the offal from our
slaughtering-yard. In summer they are habitu-
ally shy, and very watchful against any chance

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. 149

of surprise ; but deep snow, and a temperature
32° below zero, so tamed them, that they came
down on the bullocks as the men were skinning
them, and, though again and again knocked off,
refused to leave until they had a bit given them :
luckily for the ravens, the men had a superstitious
dread of doing them an injury, so that they
had only to fight it out with the dogs and Indian
women, as to right of offals.

The nest is built of sticks, and placed on the
veiy summit of the tallest pine-trees they can
find. They build very early in May, and usually
have two broods in the year. The same pair of
ravens use their old nest, simply repairing the
damage done by wind and weather. I have seen
them so gorged with dead mules' flesh as to be
unable to fly into a tree ; flapping their wings, to
aid in hopping the faster, they scrambled into the
bushes in a most undignified manner, too full even
to croak. They seldom lay more than two eggs.

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus buttockii,Ronap.). —
This is the only representative of the orioles in
British Columbia, and by no means abundant, or
often seen by visitors. These birds prefer the
localities where the scrub-oak grows to the pine
region, and build a long pendulous nest, beauti-
fully woven of fibrous roots and grass-stalks,

150 BKEWER'S BLACKBIRD.

suspending it from the point of an oak-branch,
without any attempt whatever at concealment.
The nest may frequently be seen dangling like a
jelly-bag drying. I have previously given an ac-
count of a tree covered with their nests which I
saw on the Shasta plains. From five to six eggs
are laid in June. I have never seen the oriole
north of the Eraser river, and but rarely east of
the Cascades. A few stragglers visited our
quarters in the Colville valley, which arrived late
in May and left early in September, the males
usually preceding the females by three or four
days.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, OR WESTERN GRACKLE
(Scolecophagus cyanocephalns, Cuvier). — A rare
bird, I should say, in British Columbia. I have
seen a few at Vancouver Island, in the yards where
cattle are fed, and a small number frequented
our mule-camp on the Sumass prairie. East of
the Cascades I saw them only at Colville, where a
small flock wintered in a settler's cow-yard.
They appear to have a great liking to be near
animals, arising, I presume, from their finding
more food and insects there than elsewhere.
They walk between the bullocks' legs, perch on
their backs, deftly turning over the hair in search
of parasitic pests, which they nip with their forcep-

THE WHISKY JACK. 151

like beaks, much to the tough-skinned ruminant's
delight.

It was pleasant to watch an old ox with three
or four of the blackbirds on his back, busy turn-
ing over the hairs with their beaks : the bullock,
slowly shutting and opening his great watery
eyes, rolling round his cud, and giving little grunts
of delight, seemed to enjoy the tickling sensation
(I am not sure that he knew what his feathered
friends were doing for his good), as much as if a
modern barber was brushing his hair by ma-
chinery. I never saw the nests of these birds,
but think they build in holes in the walls, or
rocks, if walls are not to be found.

CANADA JAY, OR WHISKY JACK (Perisoreus
Canadensis, Bonap.). — This and ' Steller's Jay'
are the only representatives of the jay family in
British Columbia. So familiar and confiding in
its habits is this plain little ash-coloured bird, and
at the same time so fond of being near the habi-
tations of man, that Canadian settlers and gold-
miners of the North-west style it the Whisky
Jack, never harm it, and say that wherever man
goes, Whisky and Whisky Jacks invariably
follow. In cold weather I have seen poor little
jack hop by the fire, perch himself on a log, ruff
up his feathers, and warm himself as fearlessly as

152 SONG OF THE REDPOLE.

if he had been reared and tamed in a shanty;
hopping round on the look-out for crumbs, he
slants his head, and looks so beseechingly with
his glittering grey eyes, that he must have a
hard cruel heart who could refuse such an appeal
for a stray morsel, or injure trustful little jack.
Indian children are their greatest enemies ; they
never wilfully kill them, but iteaze the poor little
fellows, until they die from sheer worry.

This jay has an immense distribution, extend-
ing from Vancouver Island through British
Columbia, crossing the Rocky Mountains, and
ranging down the eastern slopes into Canada ; it
is found also throughout the Northern United
States. Its nest is, much like that of other jays,
built generally in a close bush. Four to seven
eggs are the usual number laid. They winter
throughout British Columbia and in Vancouver
Island.

LESSEE, REDPOLE (^Egiothus linaria, Ca-
banis). — Rather a rare bird in British Columbia;
it frequents swampy places, where the alders grow
thickly, and large hollow- stalked water-plants
flourish. To these it clings, and swinging, as if
performing a trapeze feat, pecks away at the seed-
pods, and searching the flowers if there are any
remaining, gobbles up any beetles that may have

A BRILLIANT FINCH. 153

therein taken refuge. The song is a pretty soft
warble, that comes in bursts, as if in joyous praise
of some unusually fortunate capture ; the singer
perching itself boldly on the top of a plant, to be
the more plainly heard by its companions. In early
spring the redpoles feed right-royally, the long
pollen-dusted catkins of the alder and hazel being
much relished. I never saw its nest, though I
repeatedly searched for it. They winter in small
flocks in Vancouver Island, at its southern
extremity.

THE LAZULI FINCH (Cyanospiza amcena,
Baird).--This gaily-plumaged little bird, one of
the ' painted sparrows,' visits Vancouver Island
and British Columbia early in the summer,
arriving at the Island in May, and rather later
east of the Cascades. The colours of the male
are nearly as brilliant as the gemlike humming-
birds, the feathers having a similar metallic
lustre — a brilliancy rendered the more con-
spicuous by contrast with the flowerless shrubs it
usually frequents. The song is feeble, and only
now and then indulged in by the male, to cheer
his more sombre partner during incubation.

The nest is round, and open at the top, com-
posed of various materials turned and worked
together, lined with hair, and placed in a low

154 OREGON GROUND ROBIN.

bush, usually by the side of a stream. Five
eggs is the number generally laid.

OREGON GROUND ROBIN (Pepilo oregonus,
Bell). — This quaint restless bird is very abundant,
from the coast to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains, and is also very common on Vancouver
Island. They arrive in April and May, and fre-
quent dark woods1 and thick tangled underbrush.
Stealthy and shy, its habit is to hide, but a love
of hearing its own ugly voice invariably betrays
the place of concealment. The cry — for it is not a
song, but something like the squall of the cat-bird
— conies from the most unlikely places, often
startling one into a momentary belief in ghouls
and wood demons. I found a nest, after days of
tiresome waiting and watching ; it was placed on
the top of a stump, round which young shoots
had grown like a fringe, completely hiding it from
the sharpest eye ; the birds descended to it
through the twigs, that formed a vegetable tube.
Not a neat nest, but clumsily put together with
varied materials, lined with hair, and in it six

eggs.

GREY-CROWNED FINCH (Leucosticte teplirocotis,
Swainson). — My first acquaintance with this very
rare and beautiful bird was made on the summit
of the Cascade Mountains, on a hill we named

GKEY-CKOWNED FINCH. 155

Ptarmigan Hill, because these grouse were so very
plentiful on it. It was late in October, and we
were hurrying back to winter-quarters, hourly
expecting the first fall of snow. I observed
a flock of nine or ten birds pecking along
the ground, much as larks feed; the more I
looked at them, the more I was puzzled to
imagine what birds they could be, at such an
altitude, so late in the year. To settle the matter
I fired in amongst them, and picked up three — a
female, and two males in splendid plumage. I
tried for more, but never saw them again on the
Cascades.

In July, in the following summer, I was on
the summit of the Rocky Mountains, near the
Kootanie Pass, and again saw these beautiful
birds feeding on the ground. I shot several,
but all of them were young birds of the year,
barely fledged, or badly-plumaged old ones.
Hence there can be no doubt these finches breed
on the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, in both
about the same altitude, 7,000 feet above the sea-
level. They are very late migrants, or they
winter on the mountains; although I hardly
think they could bear the cold, or find a suffi-
ciency of food, the winter being very severe, and
the snow three feet and more in depth.

156 ROUTE TO THE SUMMIT CAMP.

CHAPTER VIII.

ROUTE TO THE SUMMIT CAMP — SPOKAN PLAINS — FEARFUL DE-
STRUCTION OF HORSES — SYNIAKWATEEN (OR 'THE CROSSING') —

A BUTTERFLY ASSEMBLAGE THE FOX-SPARROW GOATSUCKERS

THE OSPRET REDSTART LOUISIANA TANAGER DUSKY

GROUSE — FRANKLIN'S GROUSE — RUFFED GROUSE — HARRIS'S

WOODPECKER GAIRDNER'S WOODPECKER WHITE-HEADED

WOODPECKER THREE-TOED WOODPECKER — LOG-COCK— LEWIS'S

WOODPECKER — A NEW CICADA (CICADA OCCIDENTALIS).

THE routes travelled by our various working-
parties in order to reach the Summit Camp-
situated on the Rocky Mountains, and the termi-
nation of the half of the Boundary Line we were
commissioned to mark (the other half, east of
the Rocky Mountains, the terminal point of which
is at the Lake of the Woods, still remains un-
marked)— ran in a southerly direction. This
deviation from a more direct course was necessi-
tated in consequence of impassable barriers of
mountains, so closely piled and wooded, that the
valleys between them were little else than rocky
gorges, devoid of grass or other food for packed
animals. Following the Colville valley for some
distance, and thence through a sparsely-wooded

SPOKAN PLAINS. 157

country we reach the Spokan plains, which are
open grassy wastes, very like the barren grounds
we travelled through from Walla- walla to Colville.

The Spokan Indians live principally on these
plains, Gerry being their chief. Gerry speaks
very understandable English, which he picked up
whilst acting as guide to Sir George Simpson.
This large tribe has been awfully crippled by
Colonel Wright, previously spoken of as com-
manding the United States troops at Walla-
walla. The Indians made a cowardly attack on
some unarmed dragoons exercising their horses,
killed several men, and stole all the horses.
Colonel Wright, in retaliation, marched into their
stronghold, and after a brisk skirmish, routed
them, taking several of the leaders prisoners, and
with them a celebrated chief. These were all
hung where the fight took place. Then all the
Indian horses that could be collected were driven
together by order of the Colonel and shot ; 700
were thus killed ; three days were occupied in
shooting the poor beasts down. I state the fact
as it was told me.

Branching off in a north-easterly direction, the
trail leads through a thickly- wooded country to
the Pend Oreille river, where our depot, Syniak-
wateen (Indian, the ' crossing :' vide illustration),

Io8 SYNIAKWATEEN.

was situated. The scenery is picturesque beyond
description; densely wooded on each side, the
river winds its way through a series of grassy
banks, flat and verdant as English meadows.
In June these grass-flats are flooded by the melt-
ing snows, and for a short time the river assumes
the appearance of a lovely lake. The Indians en
route to the Buffalo plains, east of the Rocky
Mountains, cross the Pend Oreille at this its
narrowest neck — hence the name, Syniakwateen.
The place is a perfect paradise for the lesser
migrants: sunny, sheltered, and abounding in
insects and flowers, the birds live sumptuously,
and find in the forest-trees and shrubby under-
brush every variety of site for building purposes.
Few more wonderful displays of brilliant colour-
ing can be imagined than an assemblage of but-
terflies. ' Knights ' and ' chevaliers' have a habit,
in North and North-western America, of pitching
together on the ground, choosing damp bare
places for their gatherings; many hundreds of
these brilliantly-coloured insects might be seen
every day on these meadow-like river-banks, out-
vying in variety of tints any grouping of flowers
the most skilful gardener could produce. For
what purpose they thus congregate I am at a loss
to imagine.

INSECT-CATCHING BIRDS. 159

Here I first saw the Fox Sparrow (Passeretta
Townsendii, Nuttall). This sparrow is not, how-
ever, uncommon in dark swampy places east of the
Cascades. It is remarkable as possessing a most
singular habit — that of scratching dead leaves or
decayed material of any sort with its feet, exactly
as do barndoor fowls — sending the dirt right, left,
and behind; it picks up seeds, insects, larvae, or
anything eatable that it digs out, and then goes
on scraping for more. The long and unusually
strong claws with which this bird is provided
seem particularly well adapted to this unsparrow-
like mode of earning a living. If one waits quietly
in a dark swamp, in a few minutes the ' scratch,
scratch' of several of these birds is pretty sure to
be heard from under the tangle of fallen timber.

From daylight until dark Goatsuckers wing
their way in mazy circles, like nights of gnats
on summer evenings more than insect-catch-
ing birds — so very numerous are they at this
favoured locality. The continuous ' pisk, pisk,'
and sudden booming roar they make whilst fly-
ing, is heard in every direction — high in the air,
and close to one's ear. They have various names
given them, such as —

NIGHT HAWK — BULL BAT — MOSQUITO HAWK —
the GOATSUCKEE (Chordeiles popetue, Vieill) of

160 THE GOATSUCKEE.

zoologists. — I have met with only one well-marked
species from the coast to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains. They arrive at Vancouver Island
and along the coast in May, and at Colville' in
June. On the 7th of June I observed a great
number of these goatsuckers in company with
what I imagined to be the Black Swift, but as they
never came within range I could not determine
the matter. I succeeded in getting one goat-
sucker, a male; its stomach was gorged with
winged ants; a flight of these insects had, as I
imagine, attracted these birds.

When flying high the goatsucker makes a
curious kind of chirp — hence the name by which
they are known throughout Oregon and Cali-
fornia, as Pisk ; and when they swoop down, as
they constantly do, from a great height, they
make a loud booming noise, almost like a roar,
or the twang of a large metal harp-string — whence
I suppose comes the other name, Bull Bat.

I have noticed them 7,000 feet above the sea-
level, both on the Cascades and the Rocky Moun-
tains. They lay two eggs in July, on the bare
ground. They have a curious habit of pitching on
the ground just as it is getting dark, and running
along like a sandpiper, chasing moths and small
insects. I have often seen them pitch close to
my feet.

AMERICAN OSPREY. 161

Sitting on a tree overhanging the river, or
soaring gracefully high in the clear atmosphere,
the Osprey or Fishing Eagle may be seen at all
times.

THE AMERICAN OSPREY (Pandion carolinensis,
Gmelin) is found on nearly every river and
lake from the coast to the west slope of the Rocky
Mountains; it is also quite as plentiful on the
lakes and streams in Vancouver Island. They
quit the streams inland on the approach of severe
winter weather, and retire to the coast or go
south. The nest of the osprey is a most con-
spicuous object, and can be seen from a long-
distance; it is invariably built on the extreme
summit of a dead pine-tree, made of dry sticks,
and in size as large an an imperial bushel.

The ospreys use the same nest year after year ;
the number of young is usually three. There
was a particularly large nest in the centre of a
small prairie through which the trail ran, leading
from Sumass to the Chilukweyuk prairie : it was
placed on the top of a dead pine-tree that was at
least 150 feet high, and as straight and bare of
branches as a flagstaff; at the base of the tree
the trail forked, the other trail leading to Sweltza ;
the turn-off was known as the Eagle's Nest.
I shot two, a male and female, in August, on the

VOL. II. M

162 REDSTART AND TANAGER.

stump of a dead tree hanging over the Kootanie
river, feeling desirous to obtain specimens from
that locality. Specimens were also obtained
at Sumass, Vancouver Island, and Colville, and
there can be no doubt there is but one species
common to the entire district.

THE REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla, Swainson).
— This exquisite little bird, more like a tropical
sea-shell than a feathered songster, I met
twice only in my rambles — once at this place,
and again in the Colville valley ; both were males,
and in full nuptial plumage. From its extreme
scarcity I am disposed to think it is only an
occasional visitor to the eastern slopes of the
Cascades, the ridge being its boundary north-
wards. The birds I obtained were shot in July.

LOUISIANA TANAGER (Pyranga ludoviciana,
Bonap.). — I never saw this bird west of the
Cascade Mountains ; it arrives here and at Colville
in June. Male birds are first seen. On ar-
riving, they perch on the tops of the highest
pine-trees, and continually utter a low piercing
chirp. Soon after they pair, and disappear into
the forest. Where these birds build I cannot
imagine ; I have sought high and low for the nest,
but never succeeded in finding it. I am inclined
to think they must build on the tops of the very
loftiest pine -trees ; they leave again in September,

DUSKY GROUSE. 163

but never assemble in flocks. Its range is south
through Oregon and California ; how far north of
Colville I had no means of finding out.

The Dusky and Franklin's Grouse are con-
stant articles of daily food to us, being abundant
throughout this district.

THE DUSKY GROUSE (Tetrao obscurus, Say —
figured and described by Sir John Richardson,
' F. B. A.') is found principally on the western side
of the Rocky Mountains. It arrives at Van-
couver Island, at Nesqually, and along the banks
of the Fraser river about the end of March and
beginning of April. The male bird, on its first
arrival, sits on the summit of a tall pine-tree, or
on a rock, announcing his arrival by a kind of
lovesong — a sort of booming noise repeated at
short intervals, and so deceptive that I have often
stood under the tree where the bird was perched,
and imagined the sound some distance away. It
is extremely difficult to see this bird when you
know it is in the tree, so much does it resemble a
knob or the end of a dead branch. Soon after
their arrival they pair, but during the whole
nesting-time the male continues the booming
noise. The young are a good size in August,
but never afford much sport, as they pitch in the
trees immediately after being flushed.

M 2

164 FRANKLIN'S GROUSE.

Between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains
this larger grouse seems to be replaced by, if not
a distinct species, a very well-marked variety. In
size it is a trifle smaller, but the great mark of
distinction is the entire absence of the white
band at the end of the tail. Finding, however,
in some mature birds a trace of white, I hesitate
as to making it a new species. The young
nestlings, eggs, and mature male and female
birds, from east of the Cascades, are in the
British Museum, as well as others from the west
or coast slope. In habits, periods of arrival and
departure (or perhaps appearance and disappear-
ance would be the more correct expressions), the
two species or varieties are in every respect
similar. Where they go during the winter I
cannot imagine ; the Indians say they go to sleep
in the pine-trees. I do not think they migrate,
but only retire into the very thickest trees, and,
living on the fronds, pass the winter thus sheltered
in the bush.

FRANKLIN'S GROUSE (Tetrao fraiiklinii, Doug-
las).— I believe this bird is but rarely found west
of the Cascades ; but on the eastern side, and along
the whole district lying between the Cascades
and Rocky Mountains, it is tolerably abundant,
always keeping in the mountains, often as high as

HARRIS' WOODPECKER. 165

7,000 feet above the sea-level. It is the most
stupid bird imaginable: when five or six are
flushed together, they fly up into the nearest pine-
tree, and there sit ; throw sticks and stones at
them, until you are tired, and they scorn to be
frightened. I have often shot one or two in a
tree where others were sitting, without their
attempting to fly away. They remain in the
deep woods and sheltered places during the
winter, and feed on the leaves of the pine-tree.
They begin nesting in May, and in proceeding
from Colville to the Eocky Mountains I saw lots
of chickens in June and July not long from the
nest. I do not think these birds pair, in the
strict sense of the word; but from the large
number of females compared to males, I am dis-
posed to think they are polygamists. I never
succeeded in obtaining the eggs, but the mature
birds and chickens are set up in the British
Museum.

It may be as well to mention here the different
woodpeckers common in the pine-forests, open
timbered lands, and shrubby brush surrounding
the lakes and prairies both east and west of the
Cascades : —

HARRIS' WOODPECKER (Picus harrisii, Aud.).
— This woodpecker is by far the most abundant

166 GAIRDNER'S AND WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER.

species in the district. It is found on Vancouver
Island, and along the entire course of the Boun-
dary-line, south through Oregon and California,
north to Fort Simpson : a few remain at Colville
during the winter, but the greater number retire
to the coast, and return in April and May. In
May they pair, and bore out a hole in a dead tree ;
they use no lining for the nest, but lay the eggs
on the bare wood. Their favourite haunt is on
the stumps of trees growing round swamps or
prairie-land.

GAIRDNER'S WOODPECKER (Picus gairdneri,
Aud.). — The same remarks apply to this wood-
pecker as to the preceding, Picus liarrisii. It dif-
fers slightly in habit, generally hunting for insects
on the maples, alders, and stunted oaks rather
than on the pine-trees. Specimens of both species
were shot on Vancouver Island, Sumass prairie,
Colville, and west slope of the Rocky Mountains,
at an altitude of 7,000 feet above the sea-level.

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picus albolar-
vatus, Baird). — The only place I ever saw this
very rare bird was in the open timbered country
about the Colville valley and Spokan river; why
it should be confined to such a limited area I am
somewhat at a loss to imagine, except it be that
this woodpecker almost invariably haunts the

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 167

Pinus ponderosa, and never retires into the thick
damp forest. It arrives in small numbers at Col-
ville in April, and disappears again in October
and November, or as soon as the snow begins to
fall. Although I did not succeed in obtaining
its eggs, I saw in the month of May a pair nesting
in a hole bored in the branch of a very tall pine-
tree (Pinus ponder osa). This bird seldom flies
far, but darts from tree to tree with a short
jerking flight, and always whilst flying utters a
sharp, clear, chirping cry. The specimens sent
home were shot in the Colville valley.

BLACK -BACKED THREE -TOED WOODPECKER
(Picoides arcticus, Swainson). — I obtained this
bird once only ; it was on the summit of the Cas-
cade Mountains. It was late in September, and
getting cold ; the bird was alone, and flying rest-
lessly from tree to tree, but not searching for in-
sects. Both when on the wing and when clinging
against a tree, it continually utters a shrill plain-
tive cry. Its favourite tree appears to be the
Pinus contorta, which grows at great altitudes.
I do not think this woodpecker is found except
on the hill- tops. In the valleys and lower
plains it is replaced by the Banded Three-toed
Woodpecker (Picoides hirsutus),

LOG COCK (Hylatomus pileatus, Baird.). — Not

168 LOG COCK AND LEWIS' WOODPECKER.

often seen, and difficult to obtain from its shy
habits, always hiding in the dark pine-forests,
the silence of which is often broken by the tre-
mendous noise this bird makes, rapping on the
dead trees. It has a wide range — common east
and west of the Cascades, and on the west slope
of the Rocky Mountains ; I have seen it north as
far as Fort Rupert (Vancouver Island), and south
through Oregon and California. Whether they
migrate south I do not know, but I obtained them
at Colville during the winter. Nests in May,
generally in a tall dead pine-tree at a great
height.

LEWIS' WOODPECKER (Melanerpes torquatus,
Bonap.). — Not found, as far as I know, west of the
Cascades, but is very abundant between the
Cascades and the Rocky Mountains ; it here
frequents the open timber. Its habits and modes
of flight are not the least like a woodpecker's ; it
flies with a heavy flapping motion, much like a
jay, feeds a great deal on the ground, and chases
insects on the wing like a shrike or king-
bird. Whilst mating they assemble in large
numbers, and keep up a continual loud chatter-
ing noise ; they arrive at Colville in April, begin
nesting in May, and leave again in October.
The nest is in a hole in a dead pine-tree, usually

CICADA. 169

a great height from the ground ; the eggs brought
home were obtained at Colville.

Striking in among the trees, and following on
a trail for about a quarter of a mile from our log-
house, I came suddenly on an open glade (or more
aptly, perhaps, I may compare it to a meadow),
such as one often stumbles on in Devonshire.

The grass was green, and peeping out in all
directions were wild flowers of various species.
A tiny stream, clear as crystal, twisted its way
in many a bend and turn through this fairy spot.
No human voice had ever, perhaps, disturbed the
silence of this unusually solitary glen ; but the
song and twitter of birds, and the buzz and hum
of insect life, told at once that flower and tree
were alike inhabited.

But there was one sound — song, perhaps, I may
venture to call it — that was clearer, shriller, and
more singularly tuneful than any other. It never
appeared to cease, and it came from everywhere
— from the tops of the trees, from the trembling
leaves of the cottonwood, from the stunted
underbrush, from the flowers, the grass, the
rocks and boulders — nay, the very stream itself
seemed vocal with hidden minstrels, all ch aunt-
ing the same refrain. It was the first time I
had heard this song in these wilds ; and although

170 A FOKEST MINSTREL.

I had not yet caught sight of the singer, I knew
that it must be a cicada. I soon pounced upon
the singular little vocalist, and captured him in
his native orchestra. He was a handsome little
fellow, with large bright shining eyes, wings like
the most delicate lace, coloured green, like the
leaves it loves to sit on, its body clothed in scales
like fairy armour. It turned out to be an en-
tirely new species, and now figures in the British
Museum as Cicada occidentalis.

The genus Cicada is found in all the temperate
and warm countries of the globe ; some of them
are nocturnal revellers, others, as our friend, sing-
ing only in the daytime. They were celebrated
among the Greeks, who often kept them in cages
for the sake of their song. They believed the
cicacla3 lived on dew, and regarded them as al-
most divine. It was the nightingale of the
nymphs. Anacreon, hearing the cicada, says,
' The Muses love thee ; Phoebus himself loves
thee, and has given thee a shrill song ; old age
does not wear thee out ; thou art wise, earthborn,
musical, impassive, without blood; thou art al-
most a god ! '

The Athenian ladies wore golden cicadas in
their hair, and it was used as the head-piece of
the ancient harp. The following fable will, per-

VOICELESS WIVES. 171

haps, account for it: Eunomus and Ariston, two
rival musicians, were contending against each
other; each played the harp, and it was hard to
say which was the better player, when ' crack'
went one of the strings of Eunomus' harp. A
cicada at once pitched on the top of the instru-
ment and supplied the want of the broken string,
and so effectually that Eunomus was declared the
victor.

But the male Cicada has a shadow to cloud the
bright sunshine of his happiness ; a sad and sorry
misfortune, I am afraid all my lady-readers will
say, and I quite agree with them. The gentler
sex, the Ladies Cicada3, are all, without an ex-
ception, dumb. Some crabbed old Greek, evi-
dently a bachelor or henpecked husband, has
dared to say (I believe he was called Anaxagoras),

Happy the cicadas' lives

Since they have all voiceless vrives !

Well, if she does not waste all her day in singing
and scolding, she attends to her duty as a mother ;
and, whilst her idle husband carols his simple
ballad, she is busy depositing hundreds of eggs
in the branch of a tree.

Admirably adapted to its purpose is the oviposi-
tor of the female cicada ! A borer of the most

172 LIVES ON DEW.

delicate structure, edged with a kind of saw or
file-like apparatus, enables her to make a slit in
the bark of a tree, into which the eggs are dropped.
The eggs are white, somewhat oval, and quite flat,
so as to pack neatly into the slit. The larva is an
ugly little monster, with six legs, and a soft body
of a dirty-yellow colour. Two years of his life are
passed away in the earth, and the time arrives
when the dark damp tunnels are to be abandoned;
then from a creeping grub he changes into a
winged denizen of the air, and with his voiceless
mate spends a short but merry life, in ceaseless
exultant jubilee.

That the cicada lives on dew is not by any
means a poet's fancy. Having assumed the
winged form, it loses the scissor-like mouth, that
served its purpose admirably in the subterranean
home for nipping up fine root-fibres, and has in
its place a kind of sucker-like snout, with which
it sucks up the juices of flowers and the sweet
sap that exudes from the bark of trees. Happy
as his life appears to be, he has many terrible
enemies to encounter during the two months of
his perfect existence. The brilliant oriole, in his
gorgeous livery of orange-and-black, hunts for him
under leaves and in the grass; and spying him
out, nips him with its sharp beak, and descending

A MUSICAL INSTKUMENT. 173

to the ground picks him to pieces, and, like a
dainty epicure, swallows only the choicest bits ;
the Louisiana tanager, flashing like a gem in the
golden sunshine, seizes on him and gobbles him
up bodily; crafty woodpeckers and stealthy
prying little flycatchers pounce upon him in the
midst of his song, and end his life ere yet it has
well begun. It shows us how wise is Creative
Wisdom in endowing these harmless little insects
with such vast powers of reproduction ! If one
female only succeeds in safely depositing her eggs,
at least seven hundred larvas are produced ; and
may it not be that, being voiceless, she is less likely
to be discovered than the male?

The structure of the apparatus with which the
males execute their long-continued, shrill, monoto-
nous music is most singular, and well worth
investigation. It is a sort of compound instru-
ment, between a banjo and a violin, consisting of
two membranes tightly stretched, and acted on
by powerful muscles ; the sound issues from two
holes near the insertion of the hind-legs. The
intensity of the sound produced varies in differ-
ent species, dependant in a great measure on the
size of the instrument. One species, found in
Surinam, produces such ringing tones from his
musical apparatus, as to be distinctly heard at a

174 BORING TOOLS.

mile distance — hence he has obtained the name of
'the harper' (Herman). Virgil says the Italian
cicada burst the very shrubs with the noise they
make :—

Et cantu querulse rumpent arbusta cicadse.

I was curious to watch the female depositing her
eggs. She first clasps the branch both sides with
her legs, and with the end of the file very care-
fully slits up the bark ; then, placing the instrument
longitudinally, files away until she has obtained
sufficient length and breadth. The small teeth
of the files are now used crosswise of this fissure,
until a trench is made in the soft pith. When
large enough, slowly down the groove in the
centre of the instrument glides a small pearly
egg, pointed at both ends, and so transparent
that the little grub within is easily discernible.
Gently she lays it within its bed, and then drops
a thin gummy material on it, to secure it from
moisture. This finished, she proceeds to deposit
another, and so on, until a sufficient number are
produced to fill the fissure ; then over all she drags
the everted bark. It is easy to perceive where
the cicada has been concealing her brood, by the
elevation on the branch. In this manner she
deposits about seven hundred eggs, going from

A CUEIOUS PROOF OF INSTINCT. 175

branch to branch, her marvellous instinct teach-
ing her to select the most suitable wood for the
purpose. The time occupied in constructing each
nest was from fifteen to twenty minutes. Her
earthly mission finished, she drops, fainting and
exhausted, from the branch, and dies.

The male, who is always trilling his refrain,
goes on indifferent, or unconscious, that the task
of his faithful spouse is finished, singing ever, un-
til his time comes — then he, too, drops beside her.
Thus the songs, one by one, cease — not only the
cicada's, but all the forest choir — and give place
to the winter blasts, that sigh in mournful music
through the leafless trees. These winds tear
from the trees the decaying branches, which the
instinct of the insect proclaimed were dying
months previously. From the nests that are in
these fallen branches, it is easy for the grub, the
larva of the cicada, to burv itself in the earth, its

•/

future home ; but those that come out whilst the
branch remains on the tree, have to make a
perilous descent. Fifty to sixty days from the
time the eggs were deposited, there emerged an
ugly little yellowish grub, covered with soft hair,
lively and bustling; with pinkish eyes, and with
feet armed with claws ; if on the tree, they rushed
directly to the end of the branch, and, without

176 AN ENTREE OF CICADAS.

any apparent fear, precipitated themselves reck-
lessly to the ground, where, without loss of time,
they commenced digging. Their forelegs, shaped
somewhat after the fashion of a mole's, enable
them to turn up the ground with great expedi-
tion, ten to twelve seconds being long enough for
one to get entirely out of sight. How long they
remain in the larvas condition I am unable to say.
An Athenian banquet, without an entree of
cicadas, was deemed as great a failure as would
be, in these days, a Greenwich feast without
whitebait. The larvas and pupaa were esteemed
the greater dainties, but a female full of eggs,
artistically browned, and served up hot and juicy,
was a bonne-bouche the Greek epicure well knew
how to estimate. Even Aristotle thought the
dish a luscious one, ' quo tempore gusta suavissima
suntj and at the present time cicadse are regularly
sold in the markets of South America. The legs
and wings are stripped off, and the body of the
insect slowly dried in the sun. When sufficiently
dry, it is powdered, and made into a kind of
cake, and in that form sold and eaten.

177

CHAPTER IX.

FROM SYNIAKWATEEN TO THE PACK RIVER FROM PACK RIVER

TO THE KOOTANIE — THE TOBACCO PLAINS — HUDSON'S BAY
COMPANY'S TRADING-POST — THE KOOTANIE INDIANS — A KOO-
TANIE CANOE — THE GALTON EANGE AND FLATHEAD RIVER —

THE MOOSE DEER WAPITI OR OREGON ELK — CARIBOU

VIRGINIAN DEER — WHITE-TAILED DEER — BLACK-TAILED DEER

— MULE DEER — THE ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS CAMP

IN THE GLEN YELLOW-HAIRED PORCUPINE — SAY'S STRIPED

SQUIRREL PINUS CONTORTA — ROCK PTARMIGAN — THE MOUNTAIN

GOAT THE BIGHORN AND ROCK-WHISTLER.

LEAVING Syniakwateen, the trail runs through
twenty-five miles of dark, gloomy, grassless
forest, until reaching the Pack river, a small
stream, except in the flood-time : from this river
to the Kootanie, the trees are less thickly
clustered.

In the Kootanie valley there is an abundance of
grass ; we crossed the river at its south-eastern
bend, to reach the Tobacco plains, a gravelly waste,
the grass on it at this time (July) completely
dried into hay by the sun. A small trading-post
of the Hudson's Bay Company stands near the
crossing, occupied by one trader, who obtains the

VOL. II. X

178 THE KOOTANIE INDIANS.

peltries' undressed skins, trapped by the Kootanie
Indians, a fine tribe owning large herds of cattle
and a great number of horses.

All the savages I saw wore small brass crosses
suspended from their necks, and invariably made
the sign of the cross on their breasts when they
shook hands. Two Romish priests have been
long resident in the Flathead country; these
indefatigable men pay ' regular visits to the
Kootanies, and from their teachings these out-
ward signs of Christianity have been learned.

Their canoes are of a most singular shape,
not unlike the Kallispellem canoe shown in the
illustration of Syniakwateen. They are made of
a large sheet of bark, stripped from the spruce-
fir, which is tightly sewn at both ends, but sloped
to form a conical point. The length of the bot-
tom of the one I measured was 12 feet, the
width between the gunwales only ?J>- feet; the
bark is supported on ribs of split wood, and
gummed where there are any holes or weak
places.

When an Indian paddles it, he sits at the
extreme end, and thus sinks the conical point,
which serves to steady the canoe like a fish's
tail, while the other is raised clea.r above the
surface. They are more easily upset than any

THE MOOSE. 179

canoe I was ever in, but with skilled hands
carry a fair-sized load, and pass rapidly over
rather than through the water.

The altitude of the Kootanie pass above the
sea-level is about 2,100 feet. Crossing the
lower corner of this immense valley, our trail
led up to the Galton Mountains, a massive
range dividing the Kootanie and Flat-head rivers,
and attaining an altitude of quite 8,000 'feet
above the sea-level. These mountains afford on
their slopes admirable pasturage for horses and
ruminants, being the favourite hunting-grounds
of the Kootanies west of the Rocky Mountains.

I may mention, incidentally, that buffalos
never pass from the east to the west side of the
Rocky Mountains; hence the Kootanies cross
the Kootanie pass every summer to hunt on the
plains east of the mountains, for buffalo-meat,
and their skins called robes. This will be the
best place to briefly describe the different
species of deer I saw in British Columbia, or
in Washington Territory, immediately adjoining
it ; most of them, if not all, are to be found in
the Kootanie country.

THE MOOSE (Alee americanus, Jardine). — I
never obtained a specimen, neither did I ever
see the moose-deer on the west side of the

N 2

180 THE MOOSE HUNTER.

Rocky Mountains, but on a trail that leads over
a sandy waste, just before descending into the
valley of the Flathead river, I picked up several
shed moose-antlers ; this was about 4,000 feet
above the sea. Traders of the Hudson's Bay
Company and Indians have also told me that
moose are frequently killed on the western slope
of the Rocky Mountains. I feel quite sure that
the moose still inhabits the Galton range of
mountains, and would be also found, if properly
sought for, in the open timbered land at the base
of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.

The district is well adapted to the habits of the
moose : the ground irregular, and covered with
an open forest-growth, in the hollows forms mossy
swamps, in which grows an abundance of willow,
the young shoots of which constitute the favou-
rite food of the moose. A moose-hunter is ever
watchful for cropped willow-branches or morsels
of partially- chewed food, dropped as the animal
walked along. A moose always walks on the
very points of its toes, so that its track is in dots
arranged in pairs, at a distance of three to four feet
from each other. If the ground is very soft, the foot-
prints are more like those of a wapiti, but a
practised eye can tell the difference at a glance.

As a rule, a hunter never follows directly on

HOW TO TRACK A MOOSE. 181

the track of a moose ; before it lies down, or stops
to feed, it invariably doubles back on its own
tracks, after going for some distance against the
wind, so that anyone following would taint the
wind, and in all probability pass the animal's
hiding-place. Coming on the trail of a moose
that has not been disturbed, the hunter makes a
circuit, to cross the track some distance ahead : if
he has a keen eye, he readily detects the dots as
he crosses them at right-angles. If he does not
find the tracks, he concludes the moose has
doubled back ; by another circuit he returns to the
track, and works up cautiously against the wind,
until he discovers the hiding-place of the moose.
Great care, and long practice too, is needed to enable
a hunter to wind his way like a snake through
the bushes, without cracking the dead branches.
The flap of its great ear generally betrays the
moose; large as the animal is, a hunter's rxractised
eye can alone make it out when ensconced in
its lair.

The top of the antlers and flapping of the ears
are usually the only guides to determine the
position of the body : the spot to aim at fixed on
in the hunter's mind, he fires into the bushes ;
then follows a crash, as the animal either falls,
mortally hit, or dashes away through the crackling

182 THE WAPITI.

timber. It is seldom an experienced hunter
ventures to risk a shot when stalking, until within
twenty yards of the moose.

AMERICAN ELK* or WAPITI (Cervus canaden-
sis, Exl.). — This magnificent deer has a greater
range, and is more widely and generally distri-
buted, than any other deer in North-western
America. It is found along the entire coast
range from California to Sitka, on Vancouver
Island, and on several of the islands in the Gulf
of Georgia, on the east and west slopes of the
Cascade Mountains, on the western slope of
the Rocky Mountains, reaching an altitude in
summer of 7,000 feet above the sea. I saw
herds of these elks in the Klamath district; they
grow to a large size in these rich pastures, at-
taining a weight of from 500 to 700 pounds.
The antlers are enormous in the adult animal,
measuring six feet from tip to tip, and eleven
inches in circumference above the burr. I
scarcely think there are sufficient grounds for
making this Oregon Elk a distinct species; it
seems to me to be a well-marked variety only of
the wapiti common to the eastern side of the
Rocky Mountains. The wapiti on the Oregon

* I use tlie term Elk, for the Wapiti, in its local sense.
Strictly, it applies only to the Moose.

CARIBOU, AND WHITE-TAILED DEER. 183

coast grows much larger, and differs in colour
from the animal found on the inland mountains ;
but climatal differences are quite sufficient to
account for it. The habits of the wapiti are
too well known to need any description.

WOODLAND CARIBOU REINDEER (Rangifer Cari-
bou, And. and Bach.). — The Caribou inhabits
the high ridges of the Cascade Mountains, the
Galton range, and western slope of the Rocky
Mountains. I have no positive proof of its exist-
ence north of the Eraser, but I think there can
be but little doubt, if any, that its range is
through the entire mountain district, extending
into Russian America.

VIRGINIAN DEER ( Census Virginianus, Bodd) ;
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Cervus leucurus, Douglas).
— Whether these are really distinct species I cannot
say, but the small grey deer so common on the
plains about Nesqually and in the timber belting
the Sumass prairies, I believe to be Cervus leucurus.
I obtained two specimens on the Diamond Tree
pass, a high mountain ridge ascending sharply up
from the Sumass prairie, in December — one a
young male, the other a doe heavy in fawn — and
have no doubt about their being the above species.
I have also seen this deer on Vancouver Island,
and in the Kootanie region.

184 BLACK-TAILED AND MULE DEER.

BLACK-TAILED DEER (Cervus Columbianus,
RichcL). — This deer has by far the widest range,
and is more numerous than any other species of
the smaller deer. It is found on Vancouver
Island, on a great many of the islands in the
Gulf of Georgia, on the plains of Nesqually,
eastern and western slopes of the Cascades, and
through the entire district intervening between
the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains ; south it
extends through Oregon into California. I saw
herds of them on the Klamath plains.

The Sumass Indians had a very ingenious
mode of coaxing the male within shot during the
hunting season. They make a call or whistle
from the hollow stalk of a water-plant, and hiding
in the bush imitate the cry of the doe; by this
artifice they entice the male to come close to them.
Their favourite resort seems to be in the timber,
about open plains, prairies, and on high ground,
during the summer months, but descend for
shelter and protection into the valleys on the
approach of winter and snow. Their fawns are
dropped in May, two being by no means unusual.

MULE DEER (Cervus macrotus, Say). — I am
far from sure as to the existence of this curious
deer west of the Cascades, neither do I think it
is at all plentiful on the eastern side. The speci-

A PEEP AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 185

mens brought home were obtained at Colville
during the winter months ; I also saw other very
fine specimens in the possession of two Indians,
in the Shimilkameen valley. It is found on the
Spokan plains, and in the adjoining forests, on
the Tobacco plains in the Kootanie district, and
on the slopes of the Galton range of hills.

The trail follows the eastern slope of the
Galton mountains to the Flathead river, a good-
sized stream. The Flathead valley is about 4,005
feet above the sea-level, sandy and thinly tim-
bered ; such vegetation as there is, evidences a
particularly dry climate. From this valley,
after fording the stream, the ascent of the Rocky
Mountains commences, a gradual incline through
rather thick timber for some distance ; then over
a steep hill 6,970 feet above the sea, to descend
its eastern slope and reach a glen. Wild and
beautiful is the scenery on every side : right and
left stupendous pinnacle-like hills, white with
snow, seem to reach to the clouds ; ridge follows
ridge, each seeming to be more craggy and
massive than its fellow, as far as the eye can
scan this wondrous landscape. Aptly has this
great central axis of elevation been named the

o

Rocky Mountains; one is puzzled to imagine
how such masses of rock could have been up-

188 YELLOW-HAIRED POECUPINE.

heaved to so great an altitude. The main trail
from this glen leads over the Kootanie pass to
the Buffalo plains of the Saskatchawan ; our trail
to the astronomical station, near the 49th parallel,
6,480 feet above the sea-level; above this nearly
6,000 feet more altitude could be gained by
climbing.

Whilst at our camp in the glen I obtained two
rather rare animals, one —

THE YELLOW-HAIRED PORCUPINE (Erethizon epi-
xanthus, Brandt). — A quaint-looking beast, that
may be seen in the Porcupine Case in the British
Museum ; the quills are entirely hidden by a long
silky coat of yellowish hair. Of its habits I know
very little ; living entirely in the dense forests,
watching it is an impossibility. It feeds on the
bark and succulent shoots of the shrubs and trees
composing the underbrush: for nipping these
off the jaws they are armed with four powerful
incisor-teeth, sharp as chisels.

SAY'S STRIPED SQUIRREL (Spermophilus la-
teralis) is one of the most beautiful of the
Spermophiles (' seed lovers.') Its size is about
that of the ordinary red squirrel. Instead of
the quiet sombre garb usually worn by its
brethren, this little squirrel is clad in the
gayest costume imaginable; and as it nimbly

A HANDSOME LI VERY. 187

skips from rock to rock, or darts along a fallen
tree, the stripes assume a ribbon-like appearance,
unlike any animal's coat I ever saw.

Two broad stripes of jet-black mark each side
of the animal, and extend from the shoulders to
the thighs; between each pair of stripes is a line
of equal width, of a yellowish-white. The medium
region of the back is a rich grey ; chestnut-brown,
mottled with yellow and black, colours half the
thighs, and extends over the hips, shading away
into the grey on the back. The tail is rather
short, but very brushy; the under-surface, coloured
a bright yellow-brown, is margined with a much
lighter tint of the same colour. Above the tail
is grey, like the back. Length about seven inches ;
tail four inches without the terminating hairs.

It feeds principally on young grass and the
juicy stalks of succulent plants; extending from
the holes or clefts where they reside, trails beaten
like footpaths lead in the direction of the favourite
herbage. It is a most active and watchful
squirrel : at the slightest noise it bounds with as-
tonishing speed, and takes leaps almost equal to
those of the flying-squirrel to reach its hole,
uttering as it runs a low plaintive whistle. Con-
spicuous as this squirrel's coloration appears when
viewed apart from its habitat, nevertheless, it

388 PINUS CONTOETA.

admirably accords with the light and dark
markings peculiar to the slaty rocks amidst
which I saw it; when the animal is perfectly
still, it is quite impossible to make it out to be
other than a portion of the rock, until by moving
it betrays itself.

The most conspicuous pine in these elevated
districts is the Pinus contorta. It thrives at
an altitude of 7,000 feet above the sea-level.
Where there are Indians the young trees of this
species are invariably stripped of their bark to a
height of seven feet from the around, or as high

o o o

up the trunk as an ordinary person can reach.
This is done in order to procure the inner bark,
which the savages use as food ; they eat it in the
fresh state as peeled from the tree, and com-
pressed into cakes, in which state it can be pre-
served for a long time, and is easily carried.

The Summit Camp is placed in a snug nook
under a massive slaty kind of mountain; there is
little to be seen from it save rugged hilltops and
snow. Near the terminal point of the Boundary-
line is the watershed, and it is hardly an exag-
geration to say one may sit and smoke his pipe
with one foot in the water that finds its way into
the Atlantic, whilst the other is bathed in that
flowing into the Pacific.

ROCK PTARMIGAN. 189

THE ROCK PTARMIGAN (Lagopus rupestris) and
a few smaller birds, were the only members of
the feathered tribes I saw. The ptarmigan had
their chickens with them ; the parents and young
grouse may be seen in the British Museum,
obtained at this camp.

THE MOUNTAIN GOAT, which is in reality
nearer an antelope (Aplocerus montanus, Grd.),
is a most conspicuous feature amidst this rocky
desolation. Gazing on some unusually splin-
tered and contorted hillside, suddenly a small
herd of mountain-goats come, as if by ma-
gic, round a jutting corner, and deliberately
march along' on a ledge, where, to all appear-
ance, a cat would be puzzled to find a firm
foothold; frighten them and they gallop with
equal safety, and, springing from one side of a
chasm to another, pitch like a bird, rather
than a hard-hoofed fourfooted beast, on the
narrowest ledges. The females had kids (or
fawns perhaps is more correct) by their sides.
I ate some of the flesh, but its flavour was goaty
in the extreme.

THE BIGHORN or MOUNTAIN SHEEP (Ovis
montana, Cuvier) is also a tenant of the lower
ridges of these mountains. I did not see any,
but the Indians say they often kill them. The

190 EOCK WHISTLER.

•4

bighorn is also found on the middle and upper
ridges of the Cascades.

THE HOARY MARMOT (Arctomys okanaganus),
or, as styled by the fur-traders, the ' Rock
Whistler,' lives on the very summit of the Rocky
Mountains.

If there is a spot on the face of the globe
more dismal, solitary, inhospitable, and unin-
viting than another, that spot is where this most
accomplished siffleur resides; and it is not by
any means a matter to be wondered at, that
so very little is to be found, .in works on Natural
History, relating to this little anchorite's habits.

My purpose being to climb the craggy ascent
that led up to the watershed — not by any
means a dangerous thing to do; it was simply
leg-aching, tiresome, scrambling work. The
grass being dry, it polished the soles of my
mocassins, until they became like burnished
metal ; so that progression, up the long green
slopes, was much the same as it would have been
up an ice-slant, with skates on. I got up at last,
and, feeling somewhat fagged, seated myself on a
flat rock, unslung my gun, lighted my pipe, and
had a good look at everything round about me.

The sun had crept steadily up unto the clear
sky, unflecked by a single cloud ; the mists, that

A KEVEEIE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 191

in the early morning hung about the ravines,
and partially veiled the peaks and angles of the
vast piles of rocks, had vanished, revealing them
in all their immensity. Below me was a lake,
smooth as a mirror, but the dark-green cold
look of the water hinted at unfathomable depth.
Tiny rivulets, fed by the snow, wound their
way, like threads of silver, between the rocks
and through the grass, to reach the lake

I was not so much impressed with the beauty
of the landscape, as awed by its substantial mag-
nificence. Few living things were to be seen
save a group of ptarmigan, sunning themselves
on a ledge of rocks, a couple of mountain-goats
browsing by the lake, and a few grey-crowned
linnets, — birds seldom seen but at great alti-
tudes. There were also the recent traces of a
grizzly, or black bear, that had been munching
down the wild angelica. A solemn stillness
intensified the slightest sound to a supernatural
loudness — even a loosened stone rattling down
the hillside made me start ; there was no buzz
and hum of busy insects, or chirp of birds, or
splash of torrents, to break the silence ; the very
wind seemed afraid to moan: it was deathlike
silence to the very letter.

As I smoked away, silent as all about me, sud-

192 THE WHISTLER'S DEATH-KNELL.

denly a sharp clear whistle, that awoke the
echoes far and near, thoroughly roused me, and
sent all other thoughts to the rout. As I could
see nothing, I deemed it expedient to remain
quiet. Cocking my rifle, I lay on the grass, and
waited patiently for a repetition of the perform-
ance. I had not long to tax my patience : again
came the same sound, then others joined in the
refrain, until the place, instead of being steeped
in silence, resembled the gallery of a theatre on
boxing-night.

I very soon spied one of the performers, seated
on the top of a large rock ; its position was that
of a dog when begging. With his forefeet he was
busy cleaning his whiskers, smoothing his fur,
and clearly going in for a somewhat elaborate
toilet : perhaps he was going a wooing, or to a
morning concert, or for a constitutional, or a
lounge on the ' Marmot's mile ; ' but whatever his
intentions were, I regret to say they were frus-
trated. Solely in the cause of science I had to
stop him ; resting my rifle on a flat rock, as I lay
on the ground, I fired, and the sharp crack, as it
rang amid the rocks, was the whistler's death-knell.

Rapidly reloading, I scampered off to secure my
prize. I am afraid there was not much pity felt —
delight at getting a new animal was uppermost.

SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 193

Smoothing his fur, I plugged the shot-holes, exa-
mined him closely, measured him; admired his
handsome shape, bright-grey coat, and brushy
tail; investigated his teeth and claws, walked
back, and had a look at him from a distance;
then set to work, and skinned him. You can
see him also, if you like to visit the British
•Museum, where this very victim is ' set up,' and
placed amidst the Marmots ; his name, together
with that of his destroyer, black-lettered on the
board to which he is affixed. At the sound of
the rifle, every one of his companions took sensa-
tion-headers into their holes, and did not come
out again during my stay on this occasion.

The length, from the nose to the root of the tail,
was a trifle over twelve inches ; the tail six inches ;
head oval, and very flat ; nose, short and broad,
thickly covered with fine hairs; the cutting
(incisor) teeth large, strong, and of a yellow
colour; whiskers, black and long; ears, nearly
hid by the fur on the neck and vertex ; the claws,
strong and curved, are admirable digging imple-
ments. The general tint is that of a rusty-grey,
with a blackish conspicuous band extending from
the back of the head down the shoulders. I
need not give a more minute detail of specific
characters.

VOL. n. o

194 SOCIABLE ANIMALS.

In habits marmots are essentially sociable
animals, inasmuch as they live in little colonies ;
but, unlike some of the prairie marmots, these
rock-whistlers, when married, have a house of
their own ; and if blessed with a family — a blessing
seldom denied them — they kick out the youthful
pledges of affection as soon as they can nibble up
a living for themselves. The burrow, which is
quite two feet in diameter, is dug invariably in a
slanting direction, generally at the base of a rock,
standing up like a pedestal, on which they love
to sit and whistle. Wide trails, bare-like roads,
lead in all directions from their holes to the
feeding and drinking-places ; their hours of repast,
sensibly chosen, are early in the morning, when
the grass and herbage is wet with dew.

For only a few months, during summer, is this
quaint little miner permitted to revel in the
luxury of light; for seven dreary months out
of the twelve does he sleep out his drowsy
existence. What a wise and wonderful provi-
sion, to secure from utter extinction animals
compelled to live in these icy regions, is hyberna-
tion! Growing wondrously fat during the sum-
mer, they retire, when the nipping cold and deep
snow comes, into burrows lined with soft warm
bedding ; there become semi-torpid, and literally a

ROASTED MARMOT. 195

living stove ; for the fuel, stored as fat, is slowly
burned up in the lungs, giving out heat just as
coal would in a fire-grate. Thus the rock-
whistler heeds not the chilly blasts that sweep
through gorge and glen, and so sleeps on safe
from harm, until Sol comes to set him free.

The Redskin is the whistler's most implacable
enemy ; he never tires of hunting and trapping the
little animal, delighting to use his jacket in the
fabrication of rugs. The hair being thick, the
marmot-robe keeps out both wet and cold, and
stands an immense amount of wear and rough
usage. Much as the savage likes the coat of. his
captive, he likes his carcase even better. When
skinned a long peeled stick is thrust through the
body, from tail to head; then placed slantwise,
one end being fast in the ground, the treasured
morsel is slowly roasted over a gentle fire.

I can bear testimony to the delicacy of roasted
marmot; it beats Ostend rabbit hollow; all
honour to the redskin's taste ! A dinner off a
roasted rock- whistler, washed down with a pull
at the crystal stream, is a repast not to be
despised.

It would prove of little interest to the reader
to go again over the ground we have, I trust,
travelled pleasantly together. The Boundary line

o 2

196 A NIPPING WINTER.

was completed too late to return that same year, so
another dreary winter was spent at Colville : the
cold was so intense that the ink froze in the pens,
even when it was kept hot before the fire, and
thus put a stop to all writing; the steam
rising from the teacups would freeze into a kind
of sleet, and fall again on the table. Still, in spite
of this intense cold, if the air was still, as it
usually happened to be, no inconvenience was
felt, and we all wandered about with but
little if any warmer clothing than we wore at
Vancouver Island.

Whilst we remain here, I may as well give a
brief account of packing, camping, and pro-
visioning, and the general features of the Boun-
dary line, as well as the natives and their dogs.

197

CHAPTER X.

CAMPING — PACKING — PROVISIONING — THE BOUNDARY TOUR.

To know how, when, and where to camp, and
to be practically familiar with the systems
of transport, necessitated in a country where
roads, wheels, and i iron horses ' are unknown,
forms by no means the least valuable part of a
traveller's experience. Twelve years of constant
practice in ' the art of travel,' spent in various
parts of the world, has taught me very many
useful lessons, that may be, possibly, valuable to
those who intend devoting a portion (be it large
or small) of their lives to wandering through
uncivilised regions.

A tent should always form part of a traveller's
equipment, if possible (my remarks apply more
particularly to North-western America). Camp-
ing out is all very well, ' sleeping with no other
canopy than the blue expanse ' sounds very
romantic and pretty, and generally ' lionises ' the
individual on his return who has done it j but no

198 THE TENT AND BEDDING.

one with a grain of experience would voluntarily
sleep in the open air, if a tent was procurable. ' Jf
you can't do what you like you must do what
you can ;' in the absence of canvas, a sky roof is
about the only alternative.

Assuming a tent is available, the kind of tent
I should strongly recommend is a ' gable end ' or
' dog-kennel ' twelve-ell tent, with a seven-foot
ridge-pole, and two six-feet upright poles, The
three poles should be joined in the centre with
strong galvanised iron ferrules, so that they can
be put together like a fishing-rod. One man,
unaided, can with very little practice pitch such a
tent in from eight to ten minutes, and peg it down.

Let me advise all travellers to carry their poles
with them ; trusting to the chance of cutting them
is a bad plan, causing delay in pitching the tent.
Poles are not always so very easy to find as the in-
experienced may imagine, although travelling in
the very midst of a forest ; more than this, a tent is
never so secure as when pitched with poles made
on purpose. It is always better, too, to carry tent-
pegs than trusting to cut them at the camping-
ground ; barrel-staves afford capital material for
pegs.

Bedding. — A. small horsehair mattress, three
feet six inches wide, and six feet long. Two

TOOLS AND COOKING UTENSILS. 199

blankets, a buffalo-skin, and waterproof wrapper
to spread on the ground, and' roll the bedding
in when travelling, can be easily carried
with a tent, and will be found very pleasant to
sleep on at night or lounge on in the day. Great
care should be exercised in packing up the
bedding. Mules and horses often get a swim, or
fall in fording streams, and rain frequently
drenches one when least expected. If well rolled
the bed should be impervious to water, and
therefore safe against any accident from wet ;
finding soaked bedding on camping is enough to
try the temper of a saint.

Tools. — An American axe and a three-inch
auger are the only tools a skilled hand needs;
with them he can build a log-house, or roof
it, and add fireplace, chimney, door, and win-
dow; he can also make a raft, build a bridge, or
hollow a cedar-log into a safe and shapely canoe.
A strong case-knife, such as pork-butchers use,
is by far the best kind of knife for general pur-
poses. Worn at the belt, it is useful for everything,
from mending a pen to skinning a buffalo or a
humming-bird.

Cooking Utensils. — A frying-pan, small wooden
pail, and tin pannikin. The former is equal
to any emergency, for baking or frying; the

200 CLOTHS BAG AND LACE-UPS.

cup to boil coffee, make tea in, and drink from ;
the pail to dip water, and keep near the camp-
fire ready for any purpose. A pail is also very
useful to give your animals a drink, when the
water is inaccessible to them from mire or
rocky canons.

Spare cloths should be carried in a round
waterproof bag, made of strong canvas, painted
(such as sailors use), in which notebooks and
writing gear can be also stowed away.

For clothing I give the preference to good
Scotch tweed, as a material better suited to
stand wear-and-tear, and supply warmth without
weight, than any fabric I have ever tried. Fur
I abominate, as having no quality that is not
immeasurably improved in a woollen fabric.
Leather for jacket or trousers avoid as you
would a rattle-snake, if you can by any possi-
bility obtain other material. It shrinks when
wet, shrinks when dry, feels cold at all times,
and requires a week to dry if thoroughly soaked
-a process that contracts the sleeves, if a
jacket, from the wrist to the elbow, and trousers
to knee-breeches.

Strong ' lace-up ' boots, if you are provident
enough to bring out a stock, are far and away the
best foot-armature. Mocassins are only to be

FIREARMS AND FISHHOOKS. 201

tolerated in the absence of regular shoes and
boots ; they are as pervious to water as brown
paper, and but scant protection against prickles
and sharp stones. ' Skin-shoes ' do very well for
redskins, whose feet are as hard and tough as
a saddle-flap ; but take advice, and never forget
a good supply of strong ' lace-ups ' and a liinp
accommodating ' wide-awake.'

Firearms may be left entirely to the choice of
the traveller : every man has his fancy weapon,
and is ready at all times to do battle in support
of its merits. To my taste a strong No. 12
double gun, smooth bore and to load at the
muzzle, is by far the most useful gun for general
purposes. Were I to enter into the respective
merits of muzzle-loaders versus breech-loaders,
the smooth-bore versus the rifle, I should only
repeat what has been time after time discussed
by the most able and experienced sportsmen.
The choice of firearms I leave to my readers'
tastes and inclinations.

Fishhooks of different sizes, gut, silk, and a
piece of cobbler's wax, are absolute essentials ; if
you are angler sufficient to tie your own flies,
fur and feathers are always obtainable. It saves
a host of bother, to quietly sit down by the river-
bank or camp-fire, and manufacture any insect

202 MULE AND HORSE EQUIPMENT.

monstrosity you may deem most likely to ' kill.'
Failing this useful accomplishment, take an as-
sortment of flies with you ; strong, rough, gaudy
fellows I have always found most effective. Hair-
line is best, if you are lucky enough to possess it,
but stout cord will answer every purpose. Winch
and rod are luxuries I always dispense with when
travelling. I cut a stick to serve my purpose, and
tie my line to the end of it ; wind round the
surplus length, fasten with a couple of half-hitches,
and flog-away ; if by chance a fish is hooked, too
large to risk jerking out, play him as best you
can, and leave the rest to luck and the strength
of the tackle. A line equipped for immediate
use I always wear twisted round my hat. In
coming to a stream that looks enticing, I tether
my horse, cut a rod, tie on my line, and go to
work. If success rewards my efforts, I catch
as many fish as may be needed, string them
up, and wait for camping-time to devour my
share.

As the equipment of mules and horses, pro-
visioning, and systems of transport apply with
equal force to many as to a solitary individual, it
will save repetition, and answer every purpose, to
describe the means we adopted in marking the
Boundary line. Packing one or fifty mules re-

MULES NOT MODELS OF AMIABILITY. 203

quires, in the packer or packers, an equal amount
of skill.

As I have already said, a bell-mare is absolutely
indispensable to a train of mules. A single mule
can be tethered to graze ; a train must be turned
loose, and kept if possible from wandering by
the bell-mare, which must be either tethered or
hobbled. More than this, unless the train volun-
tarily followed the bell, no power on earth could
drive them a yard when loaded. Pigs are models
of passive obedience compared with mules ; mules
never, by any remote contingency, do right except
by accident. The bearer of tea, tobacco, bedding,
instruments (anything, in fact, spoilable) is pretty
sure, if he has a chance, to fall or purposely roll
in any water through which his route lies. Nine
chances to one, when an early start is determined
on, two or three mules are absent ; and after
hours of search and delay, the irate packers
suddenly pounce upon them, or they come strol-
ling back, whisking their tails and braying for the
the bell, having been quietly snoozing or design-
edly hid in the bushes or sedge-plants close to
the camp the whole time.

We had one small ' pinto ' (spotted) mule, very
good if anyone could only get on his back, and
sit on it after getting there ; when packed, his duty

204 PACK-SADDLES VERSUS APARACJOS.

was usually to carry the tent-poles. I am sure he
knew, when thus armed, that mischief was in his
power : no sooner was he loosed from the packers
than he charged in amongst the thickest clump of
mules he could see, running the sharp ends of the
sticks into their sides, and sending the band right
and left — paying off old grievances, I imagine.
Colonel Hawkins (Her Majesty's Commissioner)
once saw him turn a complete summersault, when
the aparacjo was first synched on. With all their
faults we could not do without them, and had
patiently to put up with their oddities.

Pack-saddles of all sorts and patterns, that have
any element of woodwork in their construction, I
decry as worse than useless. The frame broken,
your pack-saddle is done for; no mending will
ever make it fit for use. It will work unsteadily
on the animal's back ; the load easily shifts, and a
gall is the consequence that may take months to
heal. We had a few ' crosstree ' pack-saddles,
made to begin with on the most approved plan
and of the strongest materials, but abandoned
them for the aparacjo, a Mexican invention, which
I believe to be the very best contrivance ever
made for packing freight of various kinds for
transport on mule-back.

It requires a great deal of skill and long prac-

' EIGGING ' FOR A MULE. 205

tice to pack and lash goods properly on to an
aparacjo; but, believe me, the knowledge to a
traveller is worth all the time and trouble it takes
to acquire.

The great thing to accomplish in the con-
struction of a pack-saddle is to avoid the use of
wood, buckles, fixed lining, and stitching where
any strain is required. An aparacjo is simply
two large leather bags fastened together at the
top : sew two bed-pillows together by the ends,
stuff them tightly with hay, hang them across
the back of a dog (or a chair will do), fasten them
firmly with a wide canvas girth, imagine them
to be made of strong leather, and you have an
extemporised aparacjo before you.

The ' rigging ' for a mule consists of — 1. The
Aparacjo, which varies in size from five feet in
height or length to three feet six inches, the width
being about two to two-and-a-half feet, the weight
of an average-sized one being from thirty-six to
forty pounds when dry, of course much heavier
when wet. The value in California is about fifty
dollars (10/.). 2. The Synch — which is a wide
canvas girth with a leather strap at the end, that
runs through a wooden eye or iron ring — should
be one foot six inches wide, and about twenty
feet long; its use is to fasten on the aparacjo.

206 USE OF THE CORONA AND BLIND.

3. The Sling rope, made of cord about the size of
clothes-line, twenty to thirty feet long, according
to the material to be packed ; its use is to sling
various packages, or casks, or boxes, in readiness
for lashing. 4. The Riata, a strong rope sixty
feet long, with which everything is securely
lashed; by an intricate but admirable arrange-
ment, this long rope, that has neither loop nor
knot, so fastens the load that a mule rolling down
a hillside can hardly displace it, a thing I have
seen happen more than once. 5. The Sweat-
cloth, a piece of canvas about four feet square,
that goes next the skin. 6. The Blankets, four
or five pieces, a little larger than the sweat-cloth.
7. The Corona, an embroidered cloth that goes
between the aparacjo and blankets.

The packers know by the patterns embroidered
on it to which mule the aparacjos belong. A
blinder, to drop over the mule's eyes whilst being
saddled and packed, always carried by each
packer, also serves as a formidable whip, of which
the mules have a wholesome dread; laggers in a
train, unruly and careless ' mulos,' get switchings
with the blinder they do not readily forget. A
halter completes the equipment (technically
styled ' the rigging ') of a pack-mule. Each
packer has a riding-inule ; the cook always rides

BRINGING IN AND SADDLING. 207

the bell-mare in front of the train. Two packers
to every six mules is a fair division of work.

Imagine a camp chosen with due regard to the
three primary requisites — wood, water, and grass:
breakfast over, bedding rolled up, tents struck
and packed in the tent-bag, and the tinkling bell
heralds the approach of the mules, being driven
in by the packer whose duty it is to ' herd ' them.
Fifty come trotting in ; the packers, blinders in
hand, await their arrival, standing by the apa-
racjos, that are placed side by side in a kind of half-
circle. The bell-mare seized on first, is haltered,
and tied to the first aparacjo; then the mules file
up, each standing with its head over an aparacjo ;
it sometimes happens to be the one it carries, mere
matter of accident, not the choice of the mule on
the score of ownership ; they are not half so clever
as that. The halters are then put on from the
opposite side of the aparacjo, and each fastened
to that of its neighbour. This saves counting;
if the halters are all used, the mules are there to
wear them.

Saddling begins immediately after haltering.
Two packers loose a mule from its neighbour,
find the aparacjo belonging to it, slip the blind
over its eyes, adjust the saddle-cloths, fling
on the aparacjo, and then ' synch up.' First one

208 PACKING AND STARTING.

packer, placing his foot against the poor animal
to get the greater purchase, hauls with all his
mio-ht, until one would fancy mule endurance

O ' •

had been taxed to its utmost limits. Not so, how-
ever : the other packer, who has been on the off-
side steadying the aparacjo, now comes to aid his
comrade ; each this time places a foot against the.
mule's ribs, and, by their united efforts, nearly
convert the beast into the shape of a dragon-fly ;
the lynch fast, the blind is slipped off and the
mule turned loose to grunt, kick, plunge and
roll, as best suits its temper.

When all are saddled, packing commences. The
' freight ' is all piled in loads ; under each load
lays the riata or long lashing cord, on the load
the sling-rope. To describe the manner of
4 putting on ' a load, and properly lashing it when
on, is impossible. A month's daily practice is
insufficient to make an apt scholar a moderately
good packer. One may watch the mode of fas-
tening the load with a riata for a year twice a
day, and be no more able to do it at the twelve
months' end than the flute could be learned by
looking at another blow and finger it. Hence

o t-i

written description would be useless.

Packs adjusted, the cook starts on the bell-
mare, the mules being carefully counted as they

CORN BETTER THAN BISCUIT. 209

string one by one after her. The packers,
mounted, ride like field officers up and down
the line of marching mules. When a pack slips,
the mule is at once caught and the disarrange-
ment readjusted. Extreme vigilance is needed
whilst a train is on the march, lest a shifted load,
or loosened lynch, causes a gall on the back of
the mule ; a half hour's negligence in this respect
may render an animal useless for three or four
months.

In provisioning the men employed on the line
flour was found to be far better than hard
bread, more portable, less liable to injury, and
better relished than biscuit. Our men learned to
bake capital bread, small iron ovens being part
of each working parties' equipment. Baking-
powder was also served out as part of the
rations.

Salt pork and ration beef were carried in lOOlb.
barrels, two barrels being a load for a light mule,
or four fifty-pound sacks of flour. Two hundred
and fifty pounds may be taken as a fair average
load per animal for a train of mules.

Feeding the mules west of the Cascades was a
most expensive and difficult affair. From the
Chilukweyuk depot to the furthest astronomical
camp, fourteen days' journey for packed mules,

VOL. II. P

210 MARKING THE BOUNDARY LINE.

we had to feed the animals entirely on barley ;
so thick was the underbrush that it was impos-
sible for the mules to get into it from off the
trail.

If ten mules started for the far-away camps,
five had to be loaded with barley, to feed them-
selves, and the other five packed with rations.
The cost was enormous, as the grain had to be
obtained from Chili, our consumption sometimes
amounting to 1,000 Ibs. per day.

This difficulty was greatly enhanced by the
mosquitoes, the grass lands being so infested
with these pests as to render grazing impossible.
East of the Cascades we needed grain only in
wintering, the timber being open and grass
abundant.

It would take a volume to describe the cutting
and marking the 'Boundary line.' The illustration
drawn from a photograph of one of the camps,
east of the Cascades, shows the tangle we had often
to work in. The line is cut through the timber,
from the coast to the eastern slopes of the Rocky
Mountains ; marked by an obelisk of faced
granite at its commencement, then for a short
distance by iron posts, the remainder by stone
cairns placed at varying distances but in con-
spicuous places. The working staff was generally

THE WORKING STAFF. 211

from 120 to 150 men. But as all the details of
this formidable undertaking will be published
in the Commission report, it would be useless to
give them in a work more particularly refer-
ring to the natural history of North Western
America.

p2

•21-2

CHAPTER XL

INDIAN DOGS.

THESE faithful animals, that cling to man through
good and evil, are of the utmost importance to
the native tribes inhabiting the Pacific and
Atlantic sides of the Rocky Mountains. On the
eastern slope, the Thickwood Crees, who occupy
the country to the west of Lake Winnipeg and
the northern boundary of the Saskatchewan,
manage their transport with horses and canoes
during summer, and in winter with dogs only.

In summer, dogs carry the loads on their backs
on pads. In winter, the Indians travel on snow-
shoes, and then harness the dog's to li^ht sleighs.

' o o O

which they tug over the snow. A pretty sight
it is in bright summer time, when hill and valley
are alike clothed with a luxuriant vegetation, to
see a train of dogs trotting along with their little
loads, stopping continually to take a good sniff at
some attractive perfume, or lap from a tempting

SUMMER AND WINTER TRAVELLING. 213

pool. Such idlers get constantly in rear of their
comrades ; the sharp crack of the Indian's whip re-
calling the truants to a sense of their indiscretion,

o

they gallop with all their might to overtake the
train ; an undue haste, the usual result of which
is to scatter the load along the trail. Then the
culprits get a real taste of the thong, and are re-
packed. Every now and then they have a row,
and, reckless of loads, roll one over the other, a
very heap of dogs, all seeming to have an indivi-
dual interest in the quarrel of any two. Sticks,
whips, and kicks quell the riot ; the packs again
adjusted, on they trot.

In winter, when a trackless expanse of dazzling
white extends in every direction from sky-line
to sky-line, it is quite a picturesque sight and
pleasant to witness a travelling party of Crees.
The dogs, now harnessed to light sleighs (some of
them made with runners, others simply a flat
piece of board turned up at each end), jog after
the men, who, shod with snow-shoes, stride along
on the snow, as if it was hard ground ; crossing
lakes and rivers on the ice, impassable at other

*

periods of the year. Each dog has usually a
little string of bells round its neck, and as the
bells are of different tones, the jingling music
ringing clearly and sharply through the frosty

214 THE 'TRAVAILLE.'

air, sounds as cheery and welcome as the song of
the first migrant.

Other tribes in the Saskatchewan district (the
Prairie Crees, for instance), instead of packing
their dogs, use the ' travaille,' which is a triangle
formed of two poles ; the two smaller ends,
fastened together, rest on the dog's shoulders,
being kept in place by a leather strap fastened
round the neck ; a cross pole or two at the other
end stretches them open and serves to make fust
the load. This strange contrivance hauled along
is better than packing, and available in the sum-
mer when there are not sleighs, but inferior to
sleighing in winter, as dogs always work more
cheerily when six or eight are harnessed together,
than when each has its labour to perform singly.

This ' travaille ' is also used by the Crees for
their horses, when moving their lodges and camp
equipment. It often happens that an old squaw
and two or three naked little savages are perched
along upon the back of a horse, with its ' travaille '
and load, like birds upon a roost, the horse
nearly hid by the poles and savages; the load
and animal's head appear joined by a body
composed of a clump of grotesque figures,
their legs lost on the horse's sides. Coming
suddenly upon such an apparition, amidst the

DOG-SHEARING. 215

shadow of the silent forest, has often scared my
horse, and for the moment startled me.

West of the Rocky Mountains I have never seen
Indians use dogs for any system of transport ;
they either pack what they have to carry on the
backs of horses, where canoes are not available,
or failing either of these, the unfortunate squaws
do the work of beasts of burden. The inland
tribes use dogs solely for the chase and protection
of their camps. Along the coast several tribes
at one time kept dogs of a peculiar breed, having
long white hair, that were annually shorn as we
shear sheep, and the hair so obtained was woven
into rugs, sometimes mixed with the wool of the

O '

mountain goat, at others duck feathers, or wild

o

hemp, finely carded. Several of these most
curious rugs are in the Ethnological room at the

o o

British Museum, visible to any who may be
curious to see weaving in its most primitive
form. I obtained them at different places along
the coast. The simple machine or loom, if it
may be so designated, used in weaving these rugs
is also visible in the collection of the ' Economic
Museum ' at Kew.

It is a singular thing if these remote tribes
discovered for themselves the art of weaving ;
for they knew and practised weaving dog-hair

216 WHENCE CAME THE LONG-HAIRED DOGS?

fabrics before (as far as I know) they had inter-
course with any civilised races. The art of
dyeing the hair, and materials used with it, of
different colours was also known to them, thus
producing a regularly designed coloured pattern.
Since the Hudson's Bay Company introduced
blankets, the native manufacture has entirely
ceased, and the dog from which the hair was
procured is extinct or very nearly. Whence came
this singular white long-haired dog, possessed by
only a few tribes inhabiting the coast, scrupu-
lously kept on islands to prevent their extending
or escaping, and differing in every specific detail
from all the other breeds of dogs belonging to
either coast or inland Indians? There are two
ways, it would appear, in which it is possible for it
to have been imported. The more probable sup-
position is that it came from Japan; and I am
informed by a friend who has been there, that the
Japanese have a small long-haired dog, usually
white, and from description very analogous to the
dog that was shorn by the Indians of the coast
and of Vancouver Island.

There can be little doubt that the Japanese
visited the coast of North Western America long
prior to any other people; whether accidentally
wrecked, or designedly landing to trade with the

INDIAN DOGS, SO CALLED. -217

natives, is not by any means clear. Traditions
still exist amongst the Indians, near the mouth of
the Columbia, of strangers having once been
amongst them, long before they had seen Euro-
peans ; and still more confirmatory of the story's
probability, words undoubtedly of Japanese
origin are still used in the jargon spoken on the
coast called Chinook. If this is true, then I
can see nothing very extraordinary in dogs
having been on board the ship or junk visiting
the coast, that they became the property of the
natives, and that the art of weaving was
learned from those who brought the dogs. More
than this, the first possessors of these white dogs
were, as far as it is possible to trace it, Chinook
Indians, a tribe once very numerous, and living-
near the entrance to the Columbia river ; thence
the dog reached Puget's Sound, and eventually
must have been carried to Nainimo across the
Gulf of Georgia. Supposing it not to have been
brought from Japan, the only other way it
could have come must have been from the north,
which is far from likely. That the dog was not
indigenous, I am quite sure.

An immense variety of dogs are at present
called ' Indian dogs,' but nearly all of them,
wherever the Indians have been in trading com-

218 THE CAYOTE OR ' ITALIPUS.'

munication with whites, are either crosses with
the native dog, or curs of various patterns
brought by ships, emigrants, or fur traders.

The true Indian dog, as I have seen it in the
Kootanie country, among the Spokans, and other
tribes that have had no opportunity to cross the
breed with any imported dog, is beyond all
question nothing more than a tamed cayote
or prairie wolf (Canis latrans) ; a most apt and
appropriate name, for a greater thief does not
exist. Although partially domesticated — by that
I mean taught to. hunt, come when called, and
forsake their wild brethren — still they retain
every type and character of the untamed animal.
This animal, called a cayote, a name of Mexican
importation, the ' italipus ' of the Indians living
at the Columbia's mouth, is not a true wolf.

This the Indians clearly know, inasmuch as
the ' italipus ' figures in every legend as being
the animal whose form the bad spirit always
assumes when doing evil and acting adversely to
the good spirit. It seems to have taken a con-
spicuous place in the myths of the red man,
utterly different from that of any other animal,
and to be identified with his earliest history in a
way that neither the true wolf or fox has ever
been. The 'cayote ' is to my mind a connecting

MOST UNWELCOME MUSICIANS. 219

link between the wolf proper and the fox. Its
appearance, colour, form of head, and habit of
hunting in packs, are all characters that ally it to
the wolf; but true wolves, as far as I have been
able to investigate their habits in North Western
America, invariably have their young in caves,
clefts in the rocks, or any place where digging is
unnecessary ; whereas the cayote has its young in
burrows, precisely in the same way as foxes.
The voice, too, is compounded of the howl or bay
of the wolf, and the snappish oft repeated yap,
yap, peculiar to the fox.

Camping near the skirts of a forest on the
Cascade mountains, in chilly autumn, when the
days so far shortened make the evenings tediously
long to one alone by the solitary camp-fire, I
have lolled and listened to the gradual cessation
of sounds, that, one by one slowly ceasing, are
at last hushed without your being aware of it,
dying off into perfect silence ; as day with its
blue sky fades into the purple twilight, and
twilight leases behind it a black vaulted expanse,
gemmed with sparkling stars ; changes that have
no apparent beginning or end. Then amidst
this darkness and silence the peculiar cry of the
cayote bursts out as if close to your ear; ere
one ceases another commences, then another, and

220 A PUZZLE FOR A NATURALIST.

so on until the darkness, in which nothing is
visible save bright luminous specs, like spheres
of fire, seems crowded with cayotes. A child
could frighten away the entire assembly of lurk-
ing thieves ; they lack the courage to face man,
even when in hungry packs ; if disagreeably im-
portunate and noisy, it is only necessary to take
a burning stick, rush at the glittering eyes, and,
helter-skelter, off they scamper for the thicket.

This most peculiar double voice begins with a
deep-toned kind of howl, that, rapidly running
up into higher barking sounds, trends off at last
into a kind of scream or prolonged yell, issued in
jerks. Every dog that the Indians have un-
crossed by an imported breed in British Columbia
has this voice, and I have often and often been
deceived, mistaking the bay of an Indian dog
for the cry of the cayote. Even now it would
be puzzling to a naturalist, if visiting the interior
of British Columbia, to trace the origin of the
indigenous dog. As an instance of what I mean,
my own dogs consisted of a Russian setter, ob-
tained at Fort Rupert, originally from Sitka; a
thorough-bred pointer, and a spaniel; beside
these the men of the Commission had a bull- dog
and a legion of nondescript curs. To my certain
knowledge these dogs interbred in numerous in-

THE SWELTZA DOGS. 221

stances with native dogs. In. many localities
where this interbreeding took place, no record will
remain of a pointer, setter, and spaniel having
ever been there ; the type of the bull-dog, too, will
be impressed on succeeding generations. To what
conclusion could any one arrive, with these facts
hidden ? Such is the present condition of all the
Indian dogs along the entire extent of the north-
west coast; one may find types representing
every known variety.

At Sweltza, a small lake west of the Cascades,
near which the Boundary line passed, I saw
a little tribe of Indians that had a number
of dogs, that were hardly in any degree altered
from the cayote; more than this, they actually
burrowed deeply into the ground to bring forth
their young, and it was a common thing to see
the puppies playing as young foxes do, at the
entrance to the burrows, dashing into them
like wild beasts on the slightest alarm. We
had one of the puppies at our headquarters in
Vancouver Island; a regular little wolf, but un-
luckily he got under a cart wheel, and was
crushed to death.

The following specific characters of Canis la-
trans express with a few trifling exceptions those
of the true Indian dog : —

222 CHANGE FROM DOMESTICATION.

Larger than the red fox, but not nearly so
large as the grey wolf (L. griseus). Muzzle long,
slender, and sharp pointed like the red fox. Eyes
rather nearer together than are those of the wolf;
colour of eyes, light brown ; pupil circular. Ears
long, triangular and erect, thickly clothed with
hair except at the meatus, where they are quite
naked. Feet long; the five pads on their under
surfaces naked and black; a sixth, but smaller
one, projects from behind the carpal joint. Four
clawed digits on each foot, with a claw corre-
sponding to the dew-claw in our dog attached to
the rudimentary thumb. Tail bushy, tipped
with white hairs, and half the length of the head
and body. The general colour ochreous grey,
much lighter on the belly than on the back and
sides ; the back viewed from head to tail looks
black, as each hair is tipped with black, although
the remaining part and under-fur is plumbeous.

The longer hairs on the neck, which the ani-
mal bristles up when angry, are tricoloured ; the
lower two-thirds reddish brown; then a ring of
white, and a black tip, together giving a most
curious speckled look to the neck of an enraged
dog or cayote.

The most marked change observable from do-
mestication is in the hair, which becomes shorter,

AN UNRULY PACK. 223

softer, and more uniform in coloration, although

o

the tail retains its bushy appearance. Whether this
alteration in the coat is due to the greater warmth
of the lodges, I cannot tell ; diet can have nothing
to do with it, for the dogs live in the Indian lodges
pretty much the same as cayotes do when wild.

I have given this brief description of the
cayote's specific characters under the head of
dogs, because, as I have endeavoured to show,
my belief is, the dog, indigenous to British Co-
lumbia, is nothing more than a tamed cayote.

The Indians use them only for driving game.
Putting a pack of the wolfish scrubby curs into
a pine forest is like loosing so many wolves;
away they tear, rushing up everything that comes
in their way. If a puma or lynx is scared into
a tree, the dogs at once surround it, and keep
up the extraordinary double bark I endeavoured
to describe, until the savages, who know that
something is tree'd when they hear it, hasten to
the spot and shoot the prisoner. Bears are
generally either tree'd or driven to the rocks ; sur-
rounded by these snapping pests they take no
heed of the hunters, who, stealing close up, kill
them, without risk of attack.

Entering an Indian camp on foot, be it night
or day, is really a risy thing to do. The prick-

224 A DANGEROUS IMPRISONMENT.

eared guards swarm out from every lodge, like
wasps from a shaken nest, and without any en-
quiry as to what your business may be, make
straight at your legs, biting too in real earnest,
if stick and toe are not vigorously plied, until the
squaws, rushing to the rescue, lay on with lodge-
poles, and release you from an imprisonment
very desirable if practised on 'Ephraim,' * but
very disagreeable to legs thinly trousered.

The dogs are fed in great measure on fish ; the
salmon that die, as described in Vol. I., afford a
rich banquet to dogs, bears, wolves, and foxes.
If, however, imported dogs are fed for any time
on salmon, they get a kind of distemper, called
by the settlers ' salmon sickness,' which is nearly
always fatal.

The ' cayotes ' and so-called dogs are both
subject to a kind of mange, producing redness
and irritability of skin, followed by loss of hair,
and rapid wasting. I killed several cayotes, so
bad from it as to be barely able to walk, and it
as frequently kills the dogs. Whether this affec-
tion, clearly contagious, first arose among the
dogs, and was by them given to the cayotes, or vice
versa, I was not able to discover. It is worthy
of remark too, that the grey wolf never has it —

* Nickname for a ' Grizzly-bear.'

HOW THE SKIN DISEASE IS PROPAGATED. 225

so say the Indians, and I certainly never saw it,
although I have seen hundreds of skins. This
induces me to attribute its origin to domestica-
tion ; the tamed ' cayote ' or dog, shunning the
wolf, but interbreeding with the wild ' cayote,'
thus propagated it.

VOL. II.

CHAPTER XII.

THE NATIVES, THEIR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.

WHENCE the native tribes originally came that
people British Columbia and Vancouver Island
I know not. We may suppose them to have
come from the east, north, south, or west, write
volumes in support of our pet theories, and argue
for an indefinite time, after all to find ourselves
just as we started. There they are; and that is
about all we really know.

Their numbers, steadily decreasing, may be
estimated at present as 30,000. The best divi-
sion is into coast and inland tribes. The coast
Indians are to a great extent dependant on the
canoe, as the sole means of transport, the habit of
sitting in which, continually, dwarfs and deforms
the legs ; add to this the custom of altering the
form of the skull in infancy, and we account for
the degenerate appearance of the coast savage
when compared to the active horseman and
hunter of the interior.

AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT OF INDIANS. 227

I can the better explain many of their customs
by repeating some questions, and the replies to
them, submitted by me to Dr. Tolmie of the
Hudson's Bay Company's service, than whom
there is no better authority on Indian customs
and traditions, and to whose great kindness I am
indebted for much valuable knowledge, and a
hospitality the remembrance of which cheers one.
Mr. Anderson, also late of the Hudson's Bay
Company, kindly, at Dr. Tolmie's request, replied
to many of my queries.

Question. The average size and weight (roughly
estimated, or if practicable, by actual weighing
and measuring) of the Nesqually Indians or the
eight tribes speaking the Kliketat language?

Answer. (Anderson.} — Judging by the eye, I
should say from 5 ft. 5 in. to 5 ft. 9 in.. Few
would exceed the latter limit. They are by no
means a large race of people. Weight probably
from 130 to 150 Ibs.

Q. The botanical names of the Peu-hay or
bitter root; of N'poolthla; the Mamun, and
Siekyiuan; also the Calz?

A. (Anderson.) — By the ' Peu-hay ' I presume
is meant the Spalt-lum of the upper country. I
have always regarded it as a mesembryanthemimi.

228 STRANGE ALTERATION OF TEETH.

Growing in the most arid localities, it flowers
beautifully in early summer ; but its foliage soon
withers under the scorching rays of the sun as
the season advances. The other ' bitter root,'
the Tra-cliin of the Carriers, is the bulb of the
Lilium Canadense, flourishing in moist alluvial
soils. I do not recognise the other varieties men-
tioned in this article under the names given.

Q. Have they any artificial way of modifying
the form and appearance of the teeth?

A. (Anderson.) — No. At least not that I am
aware of. Still they unconsciously do so. In
the sandy districts the split salmon, in the pro-
cess of drying, retains a portion of the comminuted
sand driven by the winds. Hence in the process
of mastication the teeth of the consumers are
mechanically worn down. This to a transient
observer might appear to be the effect of art, but
it is not so. About the Dalles on the Columbia
River (where, as you know, it is sandy enough)
the natives before mid- age have the teeth worn
nearly to the gums. Higher up, about Walla-
walla and other places, the effect is not so con-
spicuous ; not that the country is less sandy, but
that the natives subsist more upon roots, and
indeed have fewer salmon to eat. Among the
Canadian voyagers of New Caledonia the same

AN INDIAN ALBINO. 229

effect is observable, and from the same cause.
I give you a notable example, Theodore Larance,
an old habitue, whom I dare say you know.

Q. Are Albinos found ? The physical characters
of their children, if they have any, or anything
that can throw any light on their origin ?

A. (Anderson.) — Yes, but rarely. There is
now, or was recently, in this town a woman, a
native of Milbank Sound, who is a true Albino.
An unprincipled rascal from San Francisco
attempted, under pretext of marriage, to carry
off this unfortunate woman to California, where
it afterwards transpired it was his intention to
exhibit her as a show. The timely interposition
of the authorities prevented this nefarious pro-
ject. I know of one or two cases where the
Albino condition was partially developed. You
may recollect, after having read the work of Sir
A. M. Kenrie, his having hired, near the mouth
of the Westroad River, a young Indian, who
afterwards guided him to the coast. This man,
I may mention, par parentliese, was still enjoying
in my time in New Caledonia a green old age ;
and I need not say that whenever he visited my
fort he was well received, as well for his grey
hairs as for his fidelity to Sir Alexander. This
old man, hale and hearty still in 18-18, was

230 RED-HAIRED INDIANS.

the father of a numerous family, all of whom
were healthy save the eldest Coos-se-yea, who
had assumed the chieftainship in place of his
aged father, and who was nearly an Albino;
that is, his face and body were marked in nearly
equal proportions with huge blotches of livid
white, contrasted with the tawny hue of the
normal man of his race.

*

A. (Tolmie.) — The only Albino known of
is the Ha-eel-tzuk or Milbank Sound woman,
spoken of in Mr. A. C. Anderson's answer to
Q. 4. She, as he states, is a true Albino, but is
supposed to be a half-breed. Amongst the
Hydah, or Queen Charlotte Island tribes, exist a
family of coarse, red-haired, light-brown eyed,
square-built people, short-sighted and of fair
complexion. The oldest representative of this
variety was twelve years ago an aged man, sixty
or upwards, having all the above-mentioned
characteristics well developed. In 1836 and
1837 I saw at Vancouver, on the Columbia
River, a Chenook Indian, at least sixty years
old, red-haired and with light-brown eyes.
Brown-haired Indians of fairer than the average
complexion are to be found amongst all the tribes
from the Columbia River to Stikine in Russian
territory, N. lat., 57°.

PRESENTS TO THE BABY SAVAGE. 231

Q. Are there any ceremonies connected
with the birth of a child, whether male or
female ?

A. (Anderson.) — None that I am aware of.
A. (Tolmie.) — Amongst the ' Sailish,' mis-
named Flatheads, and the Kalleespelm, it was
in primitive times the custom, amongst the
wealthier families of a tribe, for the pater-
nal relatives to present the mother on the
birth of a child, with food, buffalo-robes
and leather, such things as the child would
need. The maternal relatives made return
of clothing and other valuables, but not of food.
Amongst the Shahaptain or Nerperce"s the
mother gave presents but received none in
return.

Q. Does infanticide occur to any extent ; if so,
what are the probable causes?
A. (Anderson.) — No.

A. ( Tolmie.) — Amongst the Chenooks and the
Indians of Puget's Sound, as well as the Chimsians
or Fort Simpson Indians, infanticide and causing
of abortion are not uncommon. Certain old
women at Nesqually I knew were reputed experts
at the last-mentioned business. The causes are,
at first, shame at having a child without an
acknowledged father; latterly, the desire of

232 ALTERING THE HEAD.

unmarried women not to be hampered with
children.

Q. In dressing and cradling children, do they
compress the forehead or flatten the occiput,
or adopt any methods by which other parts of the
body may be affected ?

A. (Anderson.) — No; at least not perceptibly.

A. (Tolmie.) — The Indians from Columbia
River to Milbank Sound inclusive flatten the
forehead; also the Yakimas and Kliketats or
Whulwhypum amongst the tribes of the interior,
speaking the Walla-walla language, otherwise
known as the Kliketat. The north-western
tribes from Milbank Sound to Fort Simpson., and
perhaps farther north, compress the vertex or
crown so as to flatten that part of the head.
The Sailish, Kalleespelm, &c., in dressing an
infant, leave the head, shoulders and hips uncom-
pressed. They bandage the waist and legs with
the view of producing a broad-shouldered, small-
waisted, and straight-limbed adult.

Q. What the average size of families, and are
births of more than one child common ?

A. (Anderson.) — I cannot state the average.
Twin-births are rare, however, in my expe-
rience.

THE PUNISHMENT OF INCONSTANCY. 233

Q. To what age do females continue to
bear children, and how long do they suckle
them ?

A. (Anderson.) —Probably from 40 to 46. It
is hard to arrive at the ages of Indians, male or
female. 2nd. Sometimes from two till three
years.

Q. Is chastity cultivated or defective?

A. (Anderson.) — Among the interior tribes
chastity is a virtue. Among the fish-eaters of the
north-west coast it has no meaning, or if it has it
appears to be utterly disregarded.

A. (Tolmie.*) — Amongst the interior tribes,
in primitive times, breaches of chastity on the
part either of married or unmarried females were
often punished with death, inflicted either by
the brother or husband. Amongst the fish-
eating tribes of the rivers and coast chastity was
less esteemed. A vast deterioration in this re-
spect has taken place amongst all the Indian
tribes since the influx of whites amongst them.

Q. What are the ceremonies and practices
connected with marriage?

A. (Anderson. ) — Interchange of presents chiefly
and a purchase-money accruing to the father of
the bride. Among certain tribes a kind of ap-

234 INDIAN WOOING.

prenticeship is exacted, in hunting or otherwise,
from the bridegroom.

A. (Tolmie.) — The suitor does not court, but
when he has made a selection he sends his
mother or aunt to the damsel with a proposal,
to which she made no reply. The parents
are then referred to, and should they have
consented, the suitor wratches for the damsel
at the accustomed watering place and proposes
to her. The consent being given, the suitor,
accompanied by his friends, dressed in their best,
and driving loose horses, goes to the parents'
lodge. They then strip off their fine clothes,
obtaining old ones in return, and allow the
bride's friends to select horses from the band
driven up. Soon after, the bride's friends, ar-
rayed in their best, carry the bride on a robe to
her future husband's lodge, and exchanging there
their good clothes for old ones, leave without
making any return for the horses received.
Should the woman be badly used by her husband
she is taken home by her mother or aunt, the
father and brothers scrupulously avoiding inter-
ference. Interchange of presents is the inva-
riable rule, a preponderance going to the bride's
parents. At Milbank the ceremonies, which are
tedious, are performed on a platform resting on

HOW THEY TREAT WIDOWS. 235

two canoes afloat, and surrounded by canoes of
participants and spectators.

Q. Is polygamy permitted, and is divorce ever
tolerated ?

A. (Anderson.) — Polygamy is universal, re-
gulated simply by the facilities for subsistence.
Divorce is on the principle, as among all barbar-
ous tribes, of stet pro ratione voluntat. But then
the danger of objections on the part of the re-
latives is imminent.

Q. How are widows treated?

A. (Anderson.) — A rigid mourning is exacted
amongst most tribes, except along the north-
west coast, where frequently the females are
dominant and exercise the privileges of chieftan-
ship.

A. (Tolmie.) — -If the Sailish widow behaves
well she is treated well by the mother-in-law. In
about two years, or when her shorn locks regain
their wonted length, her mother-in-law points out
the relative of the deceased she ought to marry;
should she consent she is stillregarded as a relative,
but in case of refusal she is turned out of doors
and deprived of all the deceased's property.

Q. Are they long or short-lived?

A. (Anderson.) — A hard question to answer.
Instances of extreme longevity are, however,

236 GOiTKE NOT KNOWN WEST.

very rare. As a general rule I think the scrip-
tural limit is rarely exceeded.

Q. Have they any contagious disease, or any
endemic disease, or goitre, pelagra, plica, and the
like?

A. (Anderson.) — Goitre does not exist on this
side of the rocky mountains. On the Saskat-
chewan and Pine River it is common.

A. (Tolmie.) — No goitre known west of the
rocky mountains.

Q. How do they generally dispose of the dead ;
and are implements, articles of clothing, food, &c.,
&c., deposited with the dead?

A. (Anderson.) — Among some tribes by burn-
ing, among others by burial in the ground,
or depositing in canoes or boxes above the
surface. Offerings are frequently deposited
about the places of sepulture, and sacrifices of
horses (and where slavery exists, of slaves) are
made.

A. (Tolmie.) — The Indians dispose of their
dead by interment or burning, or in canoes placed
on trees, or rocks, according to the nature of the
country. The carrier Indians of New Caledonia,
and the Chimmesyans on the coast, and other
tribes speaking their language, burn the dead.
In New Caledonia, at the burning, the widow in

SYSTEMS OF SEPULTURE. 237

former days was thrust into the flames and
severely scorched when the body of her husband
was being consumed. She afterwards had to
carry his ashes in a bag on her shoulders for two
years, during which period she was the servant or
drudge of his relatives. Thereafter the ashes of
a chief were placed in an ornamented box or urn,
which was never suffered to touch the ground,
being fitted to rest on the end of a pole, stuck in
front of the lodge occupied by the relatives of
the deceased person. The other tribes in New
Caledonia bury their dead. The carriers held
triennial feasts in honour of deceased heroes,
when the manly acts of the departed were
rehearsed to the assembled guests. Women
occasionally presided at these feasts. — Sailish.
Along with Indians of note were interred the
weapons they had used, buffalo robes, and the
pipe and hat used by deceased ; also a bundle of
mocassins. At the burial of a Sailish chief the
ceremonies were curious ; the bravest woman of
the tribe, one used to carrying ammunition to the
warrior when engaged in fight, bared her breast
to the person who for courage and conduct was
deemed fit successor to the departed. From the
breast he cut a small portion, which he threw in
the fire. She then cut a small piece from the

238 THE BURIED HAT.

shoulder of the warrior, which was also thrown
into the fire. A piece of bitter root, with a piece
of meat, were next thrown into the fire, all these
being intended as offerings to the Sun, the deity
of the Flatheads. The war pipe was then
smoked by the assembled multitude, and thus the
ceremony ended, except in cases where horses
were killed. The burying of the hat was
a great affair, there having been attached
to it a piece of red cloth, six inches wide and
six yards long, adorned with ermine skin,
fringed with the wing feathers of the rocky
mountain eagle, and having the tail as its ap-
pendage. When scouting in the immediate
neighbourhood of the enemy, a Blackfoot or
Flathead chief would ride at full gallop so near
the foe as to flap in their faces the eagle's tail
streaming behind, yet no one dared seize the tail
or streamer, it being considered sacrilegious and
fraught with misfortune to touch it. The chief
was often shot during these Balaklava gallops,
when a contest would ensue for the body and
gaudy gear, such as, if all tales be true, once oc-
curred on the plain of Troy for the body of
Patroclus. At Nesqually I have known the re-
mains of several bodies of relatives disinterred
at different places, washed and re-enveloped in

IDEAS OF A FUTURE STATE. 239

blankets, &c., after which they were again buried
in one grave.

Q. Is there any subsequent visitation of the
dead ? whether are they disposed of separately or
in conjunction with other bodies?

A. (Anderson.) — Yes, by the widow mourning
for her husband, the husband for the wife, or the
parent for the child. Human nature, whether
under a tawny skin or a white one, is equally the
same.

Q. What is the received idea respecting a
future state? does it bear the character of trans-
migration, invisible existence about their ac-
customed haunts, or removal to a distant
abode ?

A. (Tolmie.} — The Indian notions of a future
state are, as far as I have been able to learn, dim
and indistinct, but that they have notions of the
kind is evidenced by the placing of bundles of
mocassins in the grave as if for a journey, and
the killing of horses, and of slaves, on the coast,
to accompany the deceased. The Flatheads
(Sailish and Kalleespelm), it is said, believed the
Sun to be the Supreme Being, and that after
death the good, i. e. the brave and generous,
went to the Sun, while the bad remained
near the earth and troubled the living; others

240 A STRANGE BELIEF.

supposed that the worthless ceased to exist at
death.

They believed, along with the Nesquallies,
Yakimas, and as far as I know all the tribes,
that beasts,, fishes, and, at least, the edible roots
of the vegetable kingdom, were once human
beings. The Flathead tradition is that the son
of the Sun came to the earth and compelled all
these humans to swim across a lake of oil, on
emerging from which they assumed their present
forms, a reason being given for the particular
shape and peculiarities of each. Bear, beaver,
goose, &c. ; for instance, the bear crossed by div-
ing, and is therefore fat ; the goose did not dive,
and consequently has only fat on the neck and
behind.

Q. Can the origin of their dogs be traced

< — • tj

whence came the parent stock ?

A. (Tolmie.)-Witli the Flatheads and Chini-
syans, the tradition is that the son of the Sun was
accompanied by a dog, when he came upon the
earth. The latter do not say that the metamor-
phosis of humans into beasts was caused by
the son of the Sun.

Q. Are the chiefs, whether of limited or ab-
solute power, elective or hereditary?

A. (Anderson.) — Hereditary rank goes a great

RIGHT OF CHIEFSIIIP. 241

way, but riches generally carry the palm. In-
stance : Lolo of Kamloops, formerly a scullion,
now a so-called chief.

A. (Tolmie.) — The authority of the chiefs is
limited, and depends greatly on individual force
of character. On the coast, chiefship is hereditary
by the female line. In the interior (Kliketat
tribes and Flatheads), rank passes by the male
line, but courage and ability are the best re-
commendations to leadership amongst the tribes
encountering the hostile Blackfoot every summer
in the buffalo-country.

Q. Have they any laws ? If so, how are they
preserved? How is delinquency punished and
how are judges constituted ? What are the crimes
taken notice of by the laws ? Is there gradation
or commutation of punishment?

A. (Anderson.)- -Yes, i.e. Social Laws, which
as a point of honour are generally well observed.
Any dereliction is generally remedied by the
ultima ratio.

A. (Tolmie.'] — No law but custom. Yery
troublesome characters sometimes shot by agree-
ment between a few leading men in a tribe.
Medicine men the most frequent victims of this
and of individual vengeance. They frequently
avert further evil by retuminff fees when the

%i C*

VOL. II. li

242 KEDSKINS AND THEIR DOCTORS.

patient dies, or by large payments when accused
by a dying man of having caused his illness.
Rival practitioners get rid of each other by
practising on the credulity of dying persons as
to the originator of their ailments. Murder is
oftener settled by payment of property to the
victim's relatives than by retribution, yet occa-
sionally retaliation ensues after a settlement.

Q. Approximately the number of inhabitants ?
Has the number sensibly varied, and within what
period ? if so, from what causes ?

A. (Anderson.) — The population is perceptibly
on the decrease.

Q. Have they any mode of commemorating
victories, by monuments, or hieroglyphics ?

A. (Anderson.) — Not apparently, at least tome.

Q. Have they any sacred days or periods, any
order of priests ; if so, are they hereditary, elective,
or determined by any particular circumstance?

A. (Tolmie.) — The Flatheads offered sacri-
fices to the sun on every solemn occasion, and
the chief presided.

Q. Is there any idea of an order of inferior
spirits, i. e. of ghosts, fairies, &c., &c. ; of magic,
witchcraft, or second sight?

A. (Ande?*son.)--r£hey have.

A. (Tolmie.) — Their mythology is ample,

BELIEF IN WITCHCRAFT. 243

though little known, and their tales endless cf
the ' olden time,' when the animals and fishes
were human and gifted with speech. They
believe in the return of the dead, in second sight,
and very strongly in necromancy or witchcraft;
hence their intense dread of powerful medicine
men. It was formerly the custom for young men
to seek supernatural gifts by seclusion in the
wilderness and fasting. Some thus became suc-
cessful hunters, gamblers, traders or hunters, as
the gift might be, whilst to the more crafty and
ill-disposed was vouchsafed the frequently fatal
gift of imposing on their fellows the belief that
they were 'medicine men ' or conjurers.

Q. Have they any distinction of stars or con-
stellations ?

A. (Anderson.}- -The hunting tribes, like the
Chaldean of old, are keen observers, and the
order of the principal constellations is well ob-
served by them in a rude way.

A. (Tolmie.) — They have names for several
of the constellations.

Q. How do they divide time with reference to
the year?

A. (Anderson.) — Chiefly by the natural order
of the seasons. That is, when the crane appears
in its northward flight, the goose, the ripening of

R 2

244 AN ACCOUNT OF THE EIGHT TRIBES.

the different berries, the arrival or spawning of
the different fishes, &c., &c.

A. (Tolmie.) — They divide the year into sea-
sons denoted by the opening of vegetation, the
ripening of different wild fruits, the coming in
season of roots and of fish, the fall of the leaf and
the setting in of winter.

I subsequently wrote .to Dr. Tolmie to ob-
tain for me a vocabulary of the Nesqually dia-
lects, and at the same time requested him to
give me the results of his valuable know1 edge
relative to the eight tribes speaking the Kliketat
lano-ua^e. I insert the letter the Dr. was good
enough to favour me with in reply, as it contains
such highly valuable information : —

' Nesqually, March 14, 1859.

' My dear Mr. Lord, —

'With the best possible intentions, it was out
of my power to get the vocabulary, &c., ready
for the departure of the " Otter," and as time now
presses I will at once plunge in medias res names
of tribes speaking the Kliketat language, or
dialects thereof, with statement of the district
they each occupy.

'1. Whulwhypum, wooded and prairie coun-
try between Vancouver and the Dalles, W.T.
(Wascopam) base of Mount Hood.

WHULWHYPUM, ETC., ROBBERS. 245

' 2. Tait-inapum. Base of Mount St. Helens,
and headwaters of Cowlibz and Lewis rivers.

'3. Pisliwanwapum (Yakima). Yakimaw, or
Eyakema on Arrowsmith's map, valley.

' 4. Walla Wallapum. Walla- walla River and
neighbourhood.

' 5. Wy-eilat (or Kyoose). Country running
to the south of Walla- walla.

' 6. Umatilla. Umatallow R. ( Arrowsmith)
and country extending thence westward to
Dalles.

' 7. Peloose. Entrance of Great Snake River
and surrounding country.

' 8. Wyampam. Falls of the Columbia above,
and near the Dalles.

' I cannot give the numbers of these tribes,
but would say at a venture, that in all they could
not turn out more than 2000 able-bodied men.
In former times, prior to the advent of whites, the
Whulwhypum used to plunder and kidnap the
Chinooks of the Columbia River, whose country
extended from the Dalles to the ocean ; and the
Pishwanwapum, better known by the name given
them by the Colville Indians, " Yakimaw," did
the same to the Nesquallies, Puyallips, and other
tribes dwelling 011 Puget's Island. By the Chi-
nooks, the Whulwhypum were called Kliketat,

246 THE KLIKETATS.

and by the Puget's Sound Indians the Yakiniaws
are called " Stobshaddat," both words signifying
robber or plunderer. On Puget's Sound the term
is likewise applied to any Indians out on a raid.
As the Whulwhypum dwelling on the prairies to
the east and north of Vancouver became first
known to the whites — the Hudson's Bay people
of Vancouver — as " Kliketats," as the term was
euphonised, so this name has of late been applied
to the language, and to all Indians speaking it.

' The Kliketats — the term is used collectively —
being excellent hunters, had within the last
quarter of a century extended themselves through-
out the Walarnet vallev and as far southward as

»/

the confines of California,, becoming rich by
supplying the American settlers in these countries
with venison and horses. The Kliketats. although

' O

getting the upper hand of the aboriginal owners
of these new hunting grounds, did not settle per-
manently therein, but in small parties were con-
tinually revisiting their native lands. In 1854,
the territorial government of Oregon compelled
these Indians to return to their homes, and with-
draw permanently from southern Oregon, where
their presence was annoying to the settlers. In
1855 they were treated with for the sale of their
lands, which gave rise to the Indian war of

THEIR FOOD. 247

1855-56, in which the Kliketats bore a principal
part.

' Prior to the war of 1855, the Kliketats had
many horses. Some chiefs, such as Peopeomuse-
muse, counted their hundreds. The tradition is
that horses were obtained from the southward,
and that the Kliketats have not been for many
generations in possession of them.

' In their own country, the Kliketats lived on
salmon, and to no great extent by the chase, game
being scarce. The principal root used by them
as food is the peahay, a bitter root which has an
" elegant " bitter taste, and boils into a farina-
ceous jelly; next is the n'poolthla, which they
grind into flour; again, the "mamun" and seek-
ywa, which they knead into white cakes and
use as biscuit; these also have a bitter flavour;
lastly, the kamass, formerly Scilla esculenta, but
now " kamassia," I believe. The " calz "* which
you saw here is also used as food by the
Kliketats. They used, before the war, to culti-
vate potatoes and maize, and some of the chiefs
had horned cattle.

' I have never been able to find that the Indians
of North West America, Kliketats or others, had

* Calz, a kind of wild sun-flower, the root of which is
dried in the sun, and then consumed as an esculent.

248 BELIEVE IN FAMILIAR SPIRITS.

originally any form of worship. They have, how-
ever, still a belief in familiar spirits in Chinook,
" Tamanowash," whom they address when in dif-
ficulty. They consider that supernatural aid, or
1 Tamanowash,' may be obtained for five objects,
namely, the cure or infliction of disease, skill in
hunting, and in gambling, courage, and invul-
nerability; lastly, success in the acquisition of
property.

' A youth desirous of obtaining " Tamanowash "
must adhere to strict cleanliness of person, and
must abstain from sexual intercourse, as indispen-
sible preliminaries; he must also leave the parental
lodge of an evening and sleep by the shore of
some distant and lonely lake, or in some other
secluded place, night after night, until during
sleep the Tamanowash communicates with him.
By this way of acting, on returning to the lodge
in the morning the parents know whether or not
the son has been successful in his night's quest.
Either the ambition of the sire, the son, or of
both, will prompt to perseverance in trial. It is
an Indian belief that when an Indian dies, or is
killed, his TamanoAvash passes to his son.

' Some say they have a grizzly bear as Tamano-
wash, others a woodpecker, the invulnerables an
oak, and so on ad infinitum.

KILLING SLAVES FOR THE DEAD. 2-19

' Most of the Kliketats flatten the forehead, but
not so much as the Chinooks or Puget Sound
Indians do. I am. decidedly of opinion that the
flattening of the cranium has no injurious effect
on the adult brain. Infants undergoino; the

<D O

process occasionally suffer, when undue pres-
sure has been applied.

' The Indians of the present day have learnt
the whiteman's belief in a future state of exist-
ence beyond the grave, and the more reflecting
seem to accept it with great satisfaction. When
asked why the practice holds amongst them of
burying property with the dead, and killing horses
and even white slaves over the graves, the reply
is that they follow the customs of their fore-
fathers, who they think must have had a glim-
mering belief in a future state, and wished the
property, &c., to be with the deceased whereso-
ever placed.

' I should at an earlier stage have mentioned
that the Wyeilat, or Kyoose, are considered for the
numbers as the most formidable and warlike
tribe of the interior, save the "Flatheads," living
east of Colville, and who do not flatten the head.
These Wyeilat are not properly Kliketats, but
interlopers to the southward, it is supposed ; their
original language now almost extinct, as the

250 THE THREE SKULLS.

elders die off, having affinity with that of the
carriers of North Caledonia and the Umpqua
Indians of Southern Oregon.

' I must now conclude this very hurried epistle,
which I should have taken more time about had
you not desired to have the vocabulary ere the
departure of the " Princess Royal."

1 1 am, my dear Sir,

' Very truly yours,
1 W. F. TOLMIE.

'John K. Lord, Esq.'

An illustration attached to this work re-
presents three Spokan Indians, photographed
at Fort Colville. The celt made of flint,
also figured in the illustration page, the finest
mounted specimen at present in the British
Museum collection, I obtained from the Indian
on the left side of the group. They had no
history of it further than that it was of great
age, and had been handed down from chief to
chief for many generations.

The skulls* are drawn from three at present
in the British Museum collection. The one
altered, from circular pressure, was the skull I
obtained at Fort Rupert; the flattened skull is

* Vide illustration : An Indian Burial Ground.

AN ORIGINAL BABY-JUMPER. 251

from Vancouver Island ; the unaltered one from
Fort Colville. The system of flattening the head
has been so frequently described that it is almost
unnecessary to repeat it here. The cradle is
figured from one in the British Museum collection,
with the board arranged for making the pressure.
The ' baby -jumper ' is a very simple contrivance ;
a stick, springy like a fishing rod. is stuck obliquely
into the ground with a string attached to the end
of it; when the baby cries from the pain caused
by the pressure, the mother hangs the cradle to
the end of the stick, then jerking the string
keeps up a bobbing motion that appears to lull
and sooth the little sufferer to sleep. I quite
agree with Dr. Tolmie in thinking altering the
head in no way detracts from mental capacity;
it only alters the shape of the box, it does not
lessen its size. The various systems of hunting
and fishing are already given in describing ani-
mals, and how fish are captured by Indians.

The illustrations are drawn from photographs.
The one with two figures* represents a pure-
blooded Indian, one of the Flathead tribe, who be
it remembered do not in any way alter the form
of the skull. The Flathead is the figure seated ;

* Vide illustration : Two Indians photgraphed at Fort
Colville, a pure Indian and half-breed.

252 THE INDIAN BOW.

the other standing is a half breed, an employee
of the Hudson's Bay Company ; his father was a
French Canadian, his mother a Cree squaw.

The illustration in which there are three figures
represents three Spokan Indians;* one, the figure
to the left, has a stone celt, which I obtained ; it
is now in the British Museum collection, and
deemed the finest specimen they possess. There
was no record as to how it became his property,
all I could glean respecting its history was that
for a long period it had been handed down from
father to son as a valuable heirloom ; hereditary
inheritance I find with Indians, as with whites, is
weak to resist the all-potent dollar. The centre
figure holds a rifle, which was not his own, but
borrowed from Macdonald, the chief trader, for the
occasion. The figure 011 the right has a bow and
arrow, both of which were also purchased. The
Indian bow is a masterpiece of skilful manufac-
ture ; its elasticity does not in any way depend
on the wood used in its construction, but 011 the
elastic ligament, procured from the fore leg of
the elk ; this is affixed to the wooden framework
of the bow by a kind of glue made from the skin
of the ' white ' salmon, a glue when hardened
resisting the influence of wet to redissolve it.

* Vide illustration : Three Spokan Indians.

LODGES AND CANOES. 253

This elastic back to the wood acts as would an
india-rubber band ; the bow when bent takes an
arrow about a yard in length, which it propels
with a force equal, for a short range, to that of
a rifle bullet. When an Indian shoots, five or six
arrows are held in the left hand, and as the string,
which is made of tendon, is hauled back, the right
hand brings with it an arrow ; this one fired,
another arrow is seized, and as rapidly as one
could reasonably count, the six arrows held in the
lei't hand are discharged. Had I my choice of
weapons I should much rather encounter a savage
armed with a trade gun than with a bow and
arrows. Spare arrows are carried in a quiver
made from the skin of their medicine animal,
or ' Tamanowash.'

Flint heads for the arrows were once exclu-
sively used, but since the Indians have acquired
a knowledge of iron they employ it in preference
to stone. But the trade gun has now in a great
measure superseded the use of the bow and
arrows.

Their lodges and canoes differ very much.
The coast tribes live generally during winter in
large sheds made of plank ; three or four sheds
often contain a whole colony, and constitute an
Indian village. These sheds are before des-

254 THE PATTERNS ON THE MATS.

cribed in the trip to Fort Rupert. They use
lodges, or in other words, conical tents, when
fishing and moving from place to place, during
the summer; these lodges generally consist of
poles covered with mats. The Sumass and
Chilukweyuk Indians frequently use rush mats ;
the rushes are harvested, and brought from lono;

7 o O

distances, then carefully dried in the sun ; when
dry they are sewn together with long needles
made of hard wood varying in length from six
feet to four inches, threaded with cord twisted
from the smaller rushes; mats thus made are
perfectly rain-proof. The coast Indians usually
cover their summer lodges with mats made from
the inner bark of the Cedar (Thuja gigantea}.
These mats are platted together and exactly
resemble bas, or matting, as it is usually called.

In platting the bark they manage to produce
very beautiful patterns to ornament their mats ;
and as different tribes adopt each a pattern of its
own, an Indian can readily tell to which tribe any
particular mat belonged. Specimens of the rush
and cedar bark mats are in the Indian collec-
tion of the British Museum, brought home by
myself.

The inland tribes, as a rule, live winter and
summer in lodges ; some of the poorer tribes use

I Mil AX

KOOTANIE AND OTHER CANOES. '255

rush mats, but the wealthier ones have the skin
lodge shown in the illustration.* These are by
far the best lodges used. The poles are covered
with the skins of either deer or buffalo, sewed
together with tendon, and the top is constructed
to move round in accordance with the wind, thus
avoiding the blinding effects of the wood smoke.
The fire is placed on the ground in the centre
of the lodge, and the inmates squat round it, or
when sleeping arrange themselves like the spokes
in a wheel, their feet to the fire and their heads
towards the sides of the lodge. A good skin lodge
is worth 50 dollars, 101. The reader will get a
clearer idea of the rush and skin lodge by com-
paring the lodge shown in the sketch of Symuk-
wateen with the three shown in the illustration
' Indian Lodges.'

The canoes also are of various kinds ; the canoe
used by the Kootanies, described in a preceding
chapter, is the general form of the bark canoe
employed on all the rivers inland ; on the coast and
up the Fraser River the canoes are all dug-outs,
that is, made from a solid piece of wood hollowed
and shaped to the desired pattern. The Fraser
canoe has the bow and stern different to the canoes
used by the Van Island Indians. These again

* Vide illustration: ludiau Lodges.

256 HOW INDIANS EXPAND A CANOE.

differ from the Nianirnos as the Nianimos differ
from the Fort Rupert, Queen Charlotte Islanders,
and the various coast Indians.

Making a ' dug-out ' requires great skill and
patience. She must float evenly, be right in her
lines, not too thick or too thin, and bilged at the
sides to give breadth and sufficiency of beam. A
small kind of steel adze is used nowaday, but
in old times the Indians had only stone imple-
ments or tools, and with these managed to chop
down trees, hew them into planks, and make
canoes ('dugouts') as they make them now in the
iron age. When the canoe is hollowed and shaped,
it has then to be widened at the sides. This the
savages ingeniously accomplish by first filling the
canoe with water, then plunging red-hot stones into
the water until it reaches to near the boiling-point ;
then sticks are forced in betwixt the sides, and
the canoe allowed to cool; a second time the
process is repeated, and so on again and again,
until the desired expansion is accomplished.

I saw canoes at Fort Rupert ('dug outs')
seventy feet long, that would carry thirty fighting
men over a moderately rough sea as safely as a
boat. The canoes and paddles are all painted
with bright colours, red predominating ; the device
being generally the ' arms,' if I may so express

A ' COPPER.' 257

it, of the tribe. Some use an eye, others an
eagle's head, others a frog; indeed, nearly every
tribe adopts some rude heraldic symbol, but for
what purpose I could not discover.

When staying at Fort Rupert I saw, by mere
chance, what the Hudson's Bay trader called an
' Indian copper.' lie told me that it was only on
very high festivals that it was ever produced, and
that its value to the tribe was estimated to be 15
slaves, equal to 200 blankets.

This wonderful ' medicine ' was contained in a
wooden case, most elaborately ornamented on its
exterior with differently-shaped pieces of nacre
neatly inlaid, brass-headed nails, and pieces of
bone. The inside was lined with the softest kind
of cedar-bark. The ' copper ' was 2 feet 4^ inches
in length, wider at one end than the other, the
wider end 1 foot 6^ inches ; and brilliantly
painted, representing all sorts of curiously-shaped
devices ; interspersed amongst them were eyes of
all sizes. It was made from a solid piece of
native copper, that had been hammered flat.
The trader also told me that some imitation ' cop-
pers ' had been made for the Company and offered
to the Indians, but nothing would induce them
either to purchase or have them as a gift. What
use this ' copper ' is I cannot tell, unless it is a kind

VOL. II. S

258 ROOT BASKETS WATERTIGHT.

of standard similar to our regimental colours. It
belongs to the tribe, not to the chief, and is kept
by the ' medicine-men ' or doctors, rain-makers,
and scoundrels in general.

Not the least curious of the Coast Indian cus-
toms is that of masking. Imitations of the most
hideous monsters conceivable are carved for
masks from cedar- wood, and by a clumsy arrange-
ment of strings these masks are made to roll the
eyes, and open and shut the mouth. They use
them when dancing, the only music a kind of
drum or tambourine, hung round with the beaks
of the sea-parrot, which rattle as the instrument
is shaken and beat. Some cover their heads
with swans-down, and as they bow to their
partner, small portions fly off and settle on him ;
and this sending the down upon the opposite
dancer is considered the great skill of the per-
formance.

The Bella-hoo-la Indians, a tribe that resides
on the banks of the Salmon river, make very
beautiful baskets from the fine roots of the cedar;
they also make hats and watertight vessels from
the same material. The baskets are called Zei-
lus-qua.

The Indian cradle (Spat-zun) is made from cedar.
Immediately after birth, the infant is subjected

A CURIOUS BEVERAGE. 259

to the process of flattening the head ; a pad or
compress is first put on the forehead, then ban-
daged tightly. The baby during this process is
strapped into the cradle; a long timber pole
placed obliquely, one end being fixed firmly in
the ground, serves to hang the cradle on. Thus
suspended, the child is kept continually jumped,
by a string fastened to the lower end of the cradle
and tugged at by a squaw. This primitive baby-
jumper evidently lulls the poor little sufferer, the
victim of an absurdly barbarous fashion. This
pressure is continued at intervals until the child
is able to run about. Other tribes make the
pressure round the head, and thus elevate the
vertex or crown so as to resemble a sugarloaf.

At their festivities, the Fort Rupert Indians
use a most curious drink, which is thus prepared.
They gather the berries of the vaccinium in the
summer, before they are quite ripe, and press them
into a firm cake about half an inch thick ; this is
carefully dried in the sun, and wrapped in bark.
When this cake is to be used, about five ounces
of it are placed in a large vessel, and a small quan-
tity of cold water added. It is then stirred
rapidly round and round with the hand, which
must be perfectly free from grease, squeezed, and
worked into a pastelike form ; then more water is

s '2

260 DECORATING THE GRAVE.

added, and the rapid stirring continued. It now
begins to look exactly like soapsuds, and the
more it is worked about the more frothy it be-
comes. In this frothy state it is drank. All who
intend indulging in this foggy-fuddle come armed
with immense wooden spoons ; then they ladle
and drink, until, nearly bursting, they shamble off
to the water, a drink of which appears to allay the
distention this fuddling occasions. I have often
tasted it, but cannot say I like it ; it has a dis-
agreeably bitter flavour, suggestive of physic; and
though stirred with a female hand, still the idea
of dirt is so associated in my mind with Indians,
that I could never get over the feeling that the
fingers might have been previously used for other
purposes, and the process of washing them for-
gotten. The dog's-hair blankets I have described
in the chapter on Dogs.

The ' Indian Burial Ground' (vide illustration)
was drawn from a photograph. The huge figures,
carved from solid trees, are placed round the
boxes in order to keep away evil spirits ; small tin
vessels, pieces of coloured cloth, the skins of small
animals, and all kinds of odds and ends, are hung
by the relatives of the dead on the boxes contain-
ing the body. One thing they never failto do — that
is, to bore the bottom of the tin cups or vessels

FLINT IMPLEMENTS. 261

full of holes : thus rendered useless no one will
steal them. Scattered on the ground are flint im-
plements once used by the Indians, and the three
skulls before spoken of. The one to the left is
that of the chief, brought from Fort Rupert
(vide trip to Fort Rupert, Vol. I.), showing
the effect of circular pressure ; the middle one is
an unaltered head from the Upper Columbia;
whilst that on the left shows the effect of flat-
tening the forehead.

262

CHAPTER XIII.

DEPARTURE FROM FORT COLVILLB — VANCOUVER ISLAND CRABS.

WE left Fort Colville in April. The snow was still
on the ground, and everything very sloppy and
wet. During the winter grain was taken out in
sleighs, and distributed at different stations along
the route. This enabled the Commission to start
much earlier, as the mules by this arrangement
were not dependant on grass. We followed the
same course on our return as we did on coming
up, a route already described. At Walla-walla
we transferred all the mules and horses to some
persons to whom the Commissioner had sold
them, embarked in the steamer, reached the
Dalles — thence the Cascades, Fort Vancouver, and
Portland, from which place the ocean-steamer
took us to Vancouver Island to await shipment
to England. I added many things to my collec-
tion during this time, amongst them a variety of
crustaceans (vide illustration).

On my return I submitted them to Mr. Spence

VAXroVVKK IM \X1> I'UAIi.V

Fig. 1. Petalocerus bicornia.
„ 2. Chlurodius iinln-it-alus
, 3. Pugettia Lordii.

I'ii.'. t. I'latj-carcinus reciirvidcns.
., -"> ' (i t'^iniin, liiiiL'iin:! n:t
.. <i. Cryptolilhodei altatissura.

VANCOUVER ISLAND CRABS. 263

Bates, F.R.S., who named and described the
new and other species ; I append the report he
very kindly sent me.

(The new species of crustaceans, collected on
the east side of Vancouver Island, were some of
them dredged in from eight to ten fathoms water ;
the rest were collected between tidemarks).

Mr. Spence Bates says, in speaking of the col-
lection generally : — ' The extremely opposite and
varied localities in which many of the species
here represented have hitherto been found,
suggest the idea that Vancouver Island corres-
ponds with the extreme limit between a northern
and a tropical fauna. It is only in this way I
can account for finding the representatives of
tropical species with others that are found only
(on the eastern coast of Asia) in the Arctic and,
perhaps, North Atlantic Oceans.' That he is
quite correct in this assumption I think there can
be no doubt ; for not only does it apply to the
crustaceans, but with equal force to all the
molluscous groups. Several new species of
shells, collected at the same time and in the same
localities as the crustaceans, which were named
and described by Dr. Baird, with appended notes
by myself, and published in the Zoological
Society's Proceedings for the year 1864, are

*
264 TIDAL IRREGULAEITIES.

identical in some cases ; in others closely allied to
known species from Japan, Australia, and the
shores of our own island.

The tidal irregularities of this coast are per-
fectly inexplicable. In May, June, and July,
during the twenty-four hours, there is but one
high and one low water. At the change and fall
of the moon, high-tide happens near midnight,
and varies but little as to time during these
three months. In August, September, and Octo-
ber there are two high and two low tides in the
twenty-four hours. Then in the winter months
(November, December, and January) the regular
twelve-hour tides recur; but high water is at
twelve o'clock in the day, instead of twelve
at night. The spring-tides range from ten to
twelve feet, the neaps from five to eight.

The temperature of the sea, taken during the
summer months near the surface, ranges from
52° to 56° F. The sea-water seldom, I may say
never, looks clear, but always presents a turbid
muddy appearance, as if a large quantity of sand
was mixed with it. This may in some measure
be accounted for by assuming that strong under-
currents flow from north to south, and sweeping
past the island, and being (from their low speci-
fic gravity) close to the bottom, stir up sand and

PUGETTIA LORDII. 265

mud. The sea-bottom in and adjacent to the
numerous bays, harbours, and long canals — which,
like the fiords of Norway and Sweden, every-
where intersect the mainland and inland coasts —
varies in accordance with the character of the
bounding rocks : where trap, soft clay slates, or
felspathic rocks form the coast-line, a thick blue
clay is the usual bottom; where grit and sand-
stones, there it is sandy.

Little, if indeed anything, is as yet known of
the deep-sea productions from the west side of
the Island, which will afford a rich harvest to
future explorers.

PUGETTIA LORDII, N. S. — Carapace quadrate
behind the orbits; the anterior portion abruptly
narrowing, and produced into a double rostrum,
the horns of which divaricate. The anterior
extremity of the orbital margin is produced to a
sharp point — that is, elevated slightly above the
beak; the posterior extremity is defined by a
distinct fissure. The anterior hepatic region is
produced by a tooth immediately posterior to
the postorbital fossa, laterally extended to an
obtuse tooth or point, and posteriorly separated
from the branchial regions by a decided fossa or
lateral constriction. The branchial region is
laterally produced to a strong anteriorly-curved

260 SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.

point. The dorsal surface is tolerably smooth,
exhibiting but faintly the markings of the internal
viscera. The 'eyes are small, and reach but little
beyond the orbital margin. The external
antennas have the first joint fused with the cara-
pace, the second and third compressed and arcu-
ate, and terminate in a smooth flagellum.

The first pair of pereiopoda are moderately
long, having the meros triangulate, the upper angle
forming a prominent carina, that extends along
but terminates abruptly a little short of both
extremities of the joint ; the carpus is tricarinated ;
the propodos is laterally compressed, and forms
about half the length of the limb, and is about
one-third its breadth. The dactylos is slightly
curved and slightly serrated on the inner margin,
and antagonises at the extremity with the pro-
duced propodos. The second pair of pereiopoda
are nearly as long as the first, but much more
slender, having the meros and propodos subcari-
nated. The three posterior pairs are shorter.
The pleon is small and narrow, the second and
third segments being the broadest; while the
seventh is abruptly narrower than the sixth, and
forms a triangular plate. The female differs
from the male in being more protuberant over
the stomachal region, and consequently the ros-

WHERE FOUND. 267

trum is more depressed ; anteriorly, there is less
development of the lateral branchial teeth, and
there is a relatively greater distance between the
fifth pair of pereiopoda. The pleon is almost
circular, and covers the entire surface of the
ventral region.

The colour of the animal is of a reddish-brown,
which increases in brightness as it approaches
towards the extremity of the chelaB. In one or
two young females the carapace was smooth and
glabrous.

Found in tolerable abundance in Esquimalt
and Victoria Harbours, and, indeed, in all the
sheltered inlets along the mainland coasts from
the mouth of the Fraser to San Francisco.
Dredged in about eight fathoms of water, but
easily obtained in pools at extremely low tides.
Its favourite haunt is under a large flat stone, or
hid under the seaweed that fringes the margin
of a pool. The specimen from which the draw-
ing was made was taken in Esquimalt Harbour.

SAYAS LYRATUS (DANA). N. S.— Explor. Exp. p. 80, pi. i.,
fig. 1. — From the Straits of Georgia, U. S.

OREGONIA LONGIMANA, N. S.— Pereiopoda prima in longi-
tudine bis carapacis.

Carapace coarsely granulated or minutely
tuberculated, free from hairs, except upon the

268 OREGONIA LONGIMANA.

rostrum, which is slender, and twice the length
of the interorbital space. Pleon in the male
narrow, concave upon each side, corresponding
with the fourth, fifth, and sixth segments. Tel-
son rather broader than the preceding segment,
and emarginate at the terminal extremity. The
first pair of pereiopoda are very long, being
twice the length of the carapace, and much longer
than in either of the species described by Dana
and Stimpson. The meros reaches quite to the
extremity of the rostrum, and is furnished with
two or more longitudinal rows of small granulated
tubercles; the propodos is rather longer than
the meros, and its breadth is equal to about one-
third of its length; the dactylos is about one-
third the length of the propodos, slightly curved,
and minutely serrated on the inner margin, which
impinges throughout its entire length upon the
produced extremity of the propodos. The three
succeeding pairs of pereiopoda are imperfect in
the only specimens procured, but the last pair
are long, cylindrical, slender, and terminated in
a powerful dactylos.

This crab was obtained in Esquimalt Harbour,
and in its habits and general distribution are
very similar to the preceding.

PLATYCAECINUS EECUKVIDENS. 269

OREGONIA GRACILIS (DANA).— Sill. Am. Jour. Sec. 2, x.
Taken in from eight to ten fathoms water, in Esquinialt Harbour,
Straits of Georgia.

OREGONIA HIRTA (DANA).— Sill. Am. Jour. Sec. 2, xi.
p. 270. Straits of Georgia, U. S.

CANCER PRODUCTUS (RANDAL).— Esquinialt Harbour.

PLATYCARCINUS RECURVIDENS, N. S.— Dentes ante-
rioris lateralis regionis habeus noveru recurves et granulatos.

This very pretty species may easily be dis-
tinguished by the sharp points of the inner
lateral teeth, granulated or minutely baecated
along the margin, and having the apex recurved.
The intraorbital margin is three-lobed and granu-
lated, the centre lobe being the smallest. The
dorsal surface of the carapace is granulated on
the prominent lobes in the larger specimens, but
almost smooth in the young. The first pair of
pereiopoda have also lines of granulations along
the outer surface of the propodos and carpus.

Dana has merged this °;enus into that of

o O

Cancer, but the greater length of the animal in
relation to its breadth is a very convenient
generic diagnosis, and one that appears to cor-
respond with Milne Edwards' description rela-
tive to the more longitudinal position of the two
pairs of antennae.

The specimens were obtained in Esquinialt
Harbour. It frequents pools between tide-marks ;

270 CHLOEODIUS IMBRICATUS.

and it is common everywhere along the Oregon
and Vancouver Island coasts.

ERIPHIA GONAGRA (EDWARDS).— Hist, des Crust, folio 1,
p. 426. Esquiinalt Harbour.

PANOPCEUS CRENATUS (EDWAEDS and LUCAS).— Esquimalt
Harbour.

XANTHO DISPAR (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour.
XANTHO BELLA (STIMPSON).— Esquimalt Harbour.

CHLORODIUS IMBRICATUS, N. S.— Anteriorem regionem
carapacis habens imbricatani irregulariter ; posteriorem planam ;
carpuin et propodon pereiopodimi paris prinii rugosa.

Carapace having the posterior portion smooth,
the anterior being rough with flattened promi-
nences, that form an irregularly imbricated sur-
face. Anterior margin five-toothed, the central
tooth being the largest, the posterior the most
prominent. A small secondary tooth stands
upon the anterior surface of the fourth and fifth
teeth. The first pair of pereiopoda are short and
robust ; they have the carpus deeply corrugated
upon the external surface; a slight rib is also
present upon the carpus of each of the four suc-
ceeding pairs of pereiopodos.

Only a single specimen of this pretty little
species was obtained. It was dredged in about
eight fathoms of water, in Esquimalt Harbour.

CRYPTOLITHODES TYPICUS. 271

OCYPODE UEVULII (GTTERIN).— Esquimalt Harbour.
GRAPSUS LIVIDUS (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour.

HEMIGRAPSUS SEDENTATUS (DANA).— Between the tide-
marks, Esquimalt Harbour.

Dana records it from the island of St. Lorenzo,
at Peru. It is remarkable for the great speed
with which it runs across the dry sands to escape
capture.

GELASIMUS ANNULIPES (EDWARDS).— Esquimalt Harbour.

Dana records it from Singapore, East Indies,
and Mr. Edwards from, the Indian Sea.

PINNOTHERES FABA (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour, recorded
by Dana from Puget's Sound.

CRYPTOLITHODES TYPICUS.— Brandt, Bull, de 1'Acad de St.
Petersbourg-, 1849, vii. 175; Stirnpson, Crust. etEchin. of Pacific
North America ; Journal of the Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist., vol. vi.
p. 472, pi. 20.

A specimen of this species, which was first
described by Brandt, and afterwards more fully,
as well as figured, by Stimpson, was taken in
Rosario Strait, Vancouver Island, as well as in
Upper California.

The male, which has not hitherto been des-
cribed, differs from the female in being less
produced posteriorly. The posterior margin,
instead of being projected in an arch inversely

272 SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.

corresponding with that of the anterior margin,
traverses a line that is nearly direct from side
to side, slightly posterior to the points of the
broadest diameter in the carapace. The pleon
is triangular, and smaller and narrower than
in the female, having the lateral margins more
straight and symmetrical.

O •/

The only male specimen in the collection is
smaller than the female, and the surface generally
more tuberculated. The right propoclos of
the first pair of pereiopoda is larger than
the left, and is so well developed as scarcely
to be capable of being folded within the
limits of the carapace. The length of the male
animal, from the extremity of the rostrum to
the centre of the posterior margin of the
carapace, is about three-fourths of an inch; its
breadth, from the point of one lateral extremity
to the other, is about one inch and a quarter.
The size of the largest female in the collection is
in length about one inch and a quarter, and
breadth about two inches.

CRYPTOLITHODES ALTA-FISSURA, N. S.— Foemina
Carapax est dorsaliter Itevis ; rostrum quadratum ; oculo-
rum alvei altae-fissurse ex utra parter ostri ; svmt pleou ex Lvva
propodis par primus subcequalia et lama cum carinu supra
dactylos.

CRYPTOLITHODES ALTA-FISSUEA. 273

This species may readily be detected from the
two previously known by the smoothness of the
carapace, propodi, and pleon, and more distinctly
by the deep orbital notch on each side of the
rostrum.

The carapace is nearly as broad again as long,
and produced considerably, posteriorly to the
cardiac elevation, a feature that appears to belong
to the female.

The rostrum is broad, flat, and rectangular.
The antero -lateral margins are produced so far
anteriorly as to be nearly in a line with the
extremity of the rostrum ; a deep notch, in which
the eyes are situated, exists on each side of the
rostrum. The anterior margin is slightly marked
with distant small points ; the posterior margin
is quite smooth and even. The dorsal surface is
quite smooth, and pencilled in light red upon a
yellowish ground, the red pencilling being fine
and delicate, following the contour of the margin
and surface of the carapace.

The pleon is subsyminetrical and very smooth,
and planted considerably within the posterior
margin of the carapace. The second segment
(first visible) has the marginal plates fused with
the central. The sixth segment is without
lateral plates; and the telson is situated beneath

VOL. II. T

274 SPECIFIC DESCKIPTION.

and anterior to the posterior extremity of the
sixth segment.

The eyes are small, and placed upon peduncles,
that gradually taper from the base to the ex-
tremity. The first pair of antennas are short,
and developed upon the type of those of the
brachyura; but the first joint is reduced to a
size that is only about twice the diameter of the
second. The second pair of antenna are but
little longer than the first, and are furnished
with a broad round scale at the third joint, and
a terminal fiagellum, that is about the length of
the fifth joint of the peduncle. The squamiform
appendage is circular and dishlike; the inner
margin is straight, or somewhat excavated.

The second pair of gnathopoda have the third
joint much broader than the fourth (the second-
ary appendage reaches not to the extremity of
the third), and have the terminal joints small
and rudimentary. The first pair of pereiopoda
are subequal in the female, the propodos upon
the right side being somewhat larger than on the
left; the surface is smooth and even, and the
dactylos is furnished with a prominent carina,
that terminates abruptly near the basal articula-
tion, and loses itself gradually towards the apex.
The fifth pair of pereiopoda are completely

PETALOCERUS BICORNIS. 275

hid from view ; the three basal joints are short ;
the two terminal ones subequally long, and
furnished with a copious brush of strong cilia.
These appendages are folded together and en-
closed within the branchial chambers, where
they, no doubt, fulfil the office of the flabella of
the highest forms of Crustacea; affording an
interesting illustration of an organ being con-
verted, by the force of circumstances, from its
original purpose to the fulfilment of another, for
which it was apparently most unsuited.

PETALOCEROS BELLIANUS (WHITE), Proc. Z. S. 1856,
p. 134. — Between tidemarks, Esquimalt Harbour.

PETALOCERUS BICORNIS, N. S.— Rostrum in duo cornua
divisum habens.

Carapace triangular, anteriorly produced into
two horizontal hornlike processes, tuberculated
with nodulated prominences all over the surface,
but furnished with a series of large tubercles
corresponding in a line with the external margin
of the carapace ; the antero-lateral margin, con-
stricted between the branchial and hepatic regions,
furnished posteriorly to the orbit with two strong
blunt processes, and posteriorly to the central
constriction; armed laterally with two distinct
narrow processes, and posteriorly with six closely-
situated large round tubercles.

T 2

276 SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.

The pleon is nearly symmetrical, being rather
larger on the left than the right side. Each
segment is defined by a marginal prominence ;
that upon the left side is continued from near
the middle to a process that terminates in a point
or tooth at the side ; but that on the right becomes
confluent with a posterior ridge, and forms an
irregular circle, the centre of which is deeply
depressed.

The eyes are small, of a green colour, and
surmounted on denticulated peduncles. The
first pair of antenna? consist of three equal-
lengthened joints (of which the first is more
robust), together with a short, stout, pilose
flagellum, and a slender secondary appendage.
The second pair of antennae have a compound
scale, consisting of two large and two short com-
pressed processes, and the third joint is fur-
nished with two or three sharp strong processes.
The first pair of pereiopoda are chelate and strong,
echinated with blunt-pointed spines, and terminate
in fingers that are flattened at the extremity, and
furnished upon the outer surface with numerous
tufts of hair, that spring from the summits of
the numerous tubercles that are found there.
The second, third, and fourth pairs of pereiopoda
are more slender than the first, resemble one

DIFFERS FROM P. BELLIANUS. 277

another very considerably, and are furnished
with short, sharp, and slightly-curved dactyli.
The fifth pair of pereiopoda are rudimentary ap-
pendages; they consist of but five joints, the last
of which terminates in a blunt extremity, that is
furnished with a considerable brush of hair, and
is probably used for the purpose of cleansing the
branchial appendages.

The pleopoda are present in the female, with
the exception of the first pair (which are small),
only upon the left side of the pleon, as exempli-
fied in our specimen.

This species differs from White's P, bellianus
in having a horizontal bifurcate rostrum to the
carapace, being more distinctly tuberculated, and
in the pereiopoda being more strongly spinated.

This handsome species is of a yellow colour,
picked out with purple between the tubercles.

It was dredged in Esquimalt Harbour, in ten
fathoms of water.

ECHIDXOCERUS CIBARIUS (WHITE).— Victoria and Esqui-
malt Harbour.

PORCELLANA EDWARDSII (DESAUSURE).— Esquimalt
Harbour. M. Verreaux obtained it at Magellan.

PORCELLAXA EUPICOLA (Simi-sox).— Esquimalt Harbour.

Mr. Stimpson says that the members of this
remarkable genus are the largest crabs known :

278 HYPPOLYTE ESQUIMALTIANUS.

they do not, indeed, cover so much space as do
many of the Maiacos with their extended legs ;
but their carapax is nearly as large and their
weight greater than even the Macrocheira of
Japan. Specimens have been taken the weight
of which exceeded seven pounds; the diameter
of the carapax is over ten inches.

EUPAGURUS PERLATUS (EDWARDS).— Esquimalt Har-
bour. Dana records it, from Callao, Peru, and Chili.

EUPAGURUS ARMATUS (SuMPSOir).— Esquimalt Harbcur.
CENOB1TES DIOGENES (EDWARDS). Vide vol. ii.
CLIBANARIUS LINEATUS (DAKA).— Esquimalt Harbour.

CLIBANARIUS TURGIDUS (STIMPSON).— Six fathoms water,
in Straits of Feuca.

CRANGON VULGARIS.— Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours.

ASTAOUS KLAMATHENSIS (SIMPSON).— In all streams east
of the Cascades.

HYPPOLYTE ESQUIMALTIANUS, N. S.— Rostrum longius
quani carapaceni habens ; quatuor dentibus supra armatuui juxta
basem et septem infra; quatuor posterioribus juuctim locatis:
tertium segmentum pleonis posteriore productuni habens.

Rostrum as long as the carapace, armed with
four teeth at the base ; the posterior being just
behind the orbits, and the anterior beino; near the

' O

centre of the rostrum ; the anterior half of the
rostrum being straight and smooth. The inferior
margin is excavate at the base, and furnished
with seven small teeth ; Ihe four posterior being
near together and posterior to the centre of the

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION. 279

rostrum, the three others being further apart,
the most anterior being subapical.

The third segment of the pleon is dorsally pro-
duced posteriorly to a point. The eyes are small :
the superior antennas have the primary ramus of
the flagellum tolerably robust, and reaching to
about two-thirds the length of the rostrum ; the
secondary slender, and longer than the pri-
mary. The inferior antennas have the scale
reaching to about three-fourths the length of the

o

rostrum, rounded at the apex, subapically fur-
nished with a small tooth upon the external
margin : the flagellum wanting.

First pair of pereiopoda short, robust, chelate ;
second pair long, slender, and chelate ; the pos-
terior terminating in a robust dactylos.

Taken in Esquimalt Harbour.

HYPPOLYTE BREVIROSTRIS (DANA). — Esquimalt
Harbour.

HYPPOLYTE LAYI (OWEN).— Esquimalt Harbour,— at
Monterey, by Captain Beechy.

PANDALUS DAN^E (STIMPSON).— Esquimalt Harbour.
GEBIA PUGETTENSIS (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour.

CALLIANASSA LONGIMANA (STIMPSON).— Puget's Sound
and Straits of Feuca.

ALLORCHESTES VERTICELLATUS (DANA).— Eight
fathoms water, in Esquimalt Harbour.

Dana took it along the shore near Valparaiso.

280 MGERA FUSCA.

ALLORCHESTES BREVICORNIS (DANA).— Dredged in six
fathoms water, in Esquinialt Harbour.

Dana records it from the Bay of Islands, New
Zealand.

MCERA FUSCA, N. S. — Antenniarum superiorum secundum
articulum pedunculi non longioreni quum primum haben1? ;
flagellum et pedunculum subaequalia ; gnathopoduui par secun-
dum cum propode magno palmam edentulatum habens ; perio-
podum posterius pares margiueni posteriorem non serratam.

The body is long and slender; the superior
antennas are about half the length of the animal,
the peduncle being scarcely longer than the
flagellum ; the secondary appendage being half
the length of the primary, the second joint of the
peduncle being about the same length as the first.
Second pair of gnathopoda having the propodos
large ; palm without teeth, and defined by a small
pointed process ; posterior pair of pereiopoda
having the posterior margin of the base smooth.

In its general appearance this species bears a
near affinity to Mcera grossimana, as well as to
M. tenella, from the Feejee Islands ; the only
appreciable distinctions being in the shorter
length of the second joint of the antennas, the
absence of teeth from the palm of the hand in the
second pair of gnathopoda, and in the even margin
of the last (the only remaining) pair of pereio-

ITS AFFINITIES. 281

poda, and perhaps also in the shortness of the
peduncle of the ultimate pair of pleopoda.

Only one specimen of this species is in the
collection; and that was taken from a sponge
dredged in about ten fathoms of water in Esqui-
malt Harbour. It is of a brownish colour.

AMPHITHOE PEREGKINA (DANA).— Esquirnalt Harbour.

Dana records this species as living amongst
the roots of floating fucus, at sea, thirty miles
south of Valparaiso.

AMPHITHOE ORIENTALES (DANA).— Egquimalt Harbour.

It is also recorded by Dana from Tongatabu,
in the Pacific, along shores of coral in shallow
water.

AMPHITHOE FILICOPtNIS (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour.

It differs in no essential character from the
specimen to which Dana has given the specific
name, and which he obtained at Rio Janeiro.

IDOTEA WOSSENESSKII (BKANDT).— Esquimalt Harbour.

Dana records it from San Francisco; it has
also been taken at Atcha and Sitka Sounds by
Wossenesskii, and at Puget's Sound by Dr.
Suckly.

282 JCERA WAKISHIANA.

IDOTEA MEDIA.— Esquimalt Harbour.
IDOTEA STRICTA (DANA).— Esquimalt Harbour.

JCERA WAKISHIANA, N. S. — Posteriorem marginein pleonis
liabens bis excavatum cuspide intermedia supra cuspidatos mar-
gines non producta ; antennae inferiores non possunt extendere
supra quintum segnientuni ; pereionis posteriora pleopoda non
longiora quain posteriori niargo latus est.

Anterior margin of the cephalon nearly straight ;
pereion having the sides subparallel, the greatest
width being at the sixth segment ; pleon having
a double excavation on the posterior margin, the
central point not extending beyond the extremity
of the sides. Superior antennas reaching to the
extremity of the fourth segment of the inferior ;
inferior antennae nearly two-thirds of the length
of the animal. Posterior pair of pleopoda as long
as the posterior margin of the pleon, terminating
in two styliform rami, each of which is tipped
with a few short hairs.

This species was taken from a sponge dredged
in about eight fathoms of water in Esquimalt
Harbour.

The specific name is derived from the circum-
stance of the animal having been found on the
territory of the tribe of Wakish Indians.

TANAIS LORICATUS, N. S.— Exemplum imperfectum ; inferi-
ores antennas semi-breviores quam superiores liabens ; guathopo-
dum primi paris propoda ovata dactylo breve et tumido; pereio-
podum primis tribus articulis brevibus et latis suiit, loricis ad
pereionem adhereutibus.

TANAIS LOKICATUS. 283

The only specimen in the collection is imper-
fect. The first segment of the pereioii appears
to be imperfectly fused with the cephalon; in-
ferior antennaB scarcely half the length of the
superior. First pair of gnathopoda having the
propodos ovate ; dactylos short and tumid, shorter
and less pointed than the digital process of the
propodos. Pereiopoda having the first three
joints short and broad, being affixed to the side
of the pereion like plates of mail (hence the spe-
cific name) ; they terminate in short pointed
dactyli, and have the propodi armed with two
lateral rows of strong black pointed teeth.

This species was taken from the hollow of a
sponge dredged in Esquimalt Harbour, at the
depth of about ten fathoms.

IONE CORXUTUS, N. S.— Mas: pleonem terminatum rotimde.

The male differs from the description of the
European species, chiefly in having the caudal
extremity terminating obtusely, and in having
shorter antennae.

Foem., subequilateralis, lateralia cornua cephalonis habens recur-
vata, pleopoda longa et arborea.

The female has the antero-lateral hornlike pro-
cess of the cephalon curved posteriorly. The
pereion is not quite equilaterally developed. The

284 IONE COENUTUS.

coxae of the four anterior pairs of the pereiopoda
are round, and all attached to the antero-lateral
margin of the segments of the pereion. The
coxaa of the three posterior are the larger, and
produced posteriorly to a point. The pleopoda
are long, and fringed with arborescent branchiae.

This is the only species known, besides that
taken by Colonel Montagu on the southern coast
of England.

Length, male, ^ ; female, £ of an inch.

Taken attached to the branchia of Callianassa
longimana.

My mission in North-western America is ended.
The Hudson's Bay Company's steamer ' Labou-
chere ' takes us to San Francisco, where we spend
a very pleasant week, and I meet with many old
friends, whom I had encountered mule-hunting.
The mail-steamer takes us to Panama, where we
have to remain a short time, to await the arrival
of the English steamer at Colon. Panama has
been so often described, and is so frequently
visited nowadays, that any description of mine
would be a repetition of what others have
better said.

I will content myself by saying we reached
home safely and in admirable health. If I have

HOME AGAIN. 285

been successful enough to combine instruction
with amusement, and when the reader puts down
the 'Naturalist in North-western America,' after
going through its pages, he can say he knows
more of that country's Natural History than he
did before, I shall have accomplished all my
most sanguine anticipations.

APPENDIX.

289

APPENDIX.

A List of Mammals, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, Fishes,
Shells, Annelides, and Diatomacece, collected by
myself in British Columbia and Vancouver Island,
with notes on their habits.

New species, together with those possessing any novel
interest, are described in Vol. I. or II.

HERE I think is the proper place to acknowledge the
obligations conferred on me by the following gentle-
men, without whose valuable aid I could not have
determined and described the new species obtained :—

To Dr. E. Gfray, first, for immense assistance con-
ferred in his public capacity, and great kindness shown
me in his private one.

To Mr. Greorge Gray (British Museum), for valuable
help in making out the birds.

To Dr. Baird (British Museum), for description of
the new species of shells and annelides, and other valu-
able help as regards the molluscous groups.

To Mr. Smith (British Museum), for great assistance
in determining, naming, and arranging the insects;

VOL. II. U

290

APPENDIX.

and to Mr. Walker, for naming and describing the
Coleoptera.

To Dr. A. Grunther (British Museum), for descriptions

and much valuable aid in making out the Salmonidse
and other fishes collected.

To Professor Bowerbank, F. K. S., for very great
kindness in determining and describing two sponges
new to science.

To Spence Bates, Esq., for descriptions of the new
Crustaceans.

To Mr. E. W. Smith and Mr. Whymper I am in-
debted for the able illustrations in Vols. I. and IT.

List of Mammals.

INSECTITOHA.
Sorex Trowbridgii. (Baird.)

- Suckleyi. (Baird.)

- vagrans. (Cooper.)
Urotrichus Gibsii. (Baird.)
Scalops Townsendii. (Bach.)

FELID.E.

Felis concolor. (Linn.)
Lynx canadensis. (Kaf.)

CANIDJE.

Canis occidentalis.

- Grisco albus. (Eichd.)

- rufus. (Richd.)

- llatrans.

— familiaris.

Vulpes maerourus. (Baird.)

— discussatus.

— argcntatus.

MABTIN.ZE.

Mustcla Pennantii. (Erxl.)

- americana. (Turton.)

Putorius noveboracensis. (De Kay. )

— longicauda. (Bonapt.)

— Vison. (Ard. & Bach.)
Gulo luscus. (Ard. & Bach.)

Lutra californica. (Gray.)
Enhydra marina. (Licht.)

Mephitis occidentalis. (Baird.)

- bicolor. (Gray.)
Taxidea americaua. (Baird.)

Procyon lotor. (Storr.)
Ursus horribilis. (Ord.)
- cinnamomeus. (Ord.)

— americanus. (Ord.)

EODENTIA.
Sciurus Hudsonius. (Pallas.)

— fossor. (Peake.)

— Douglass! i. (Bach.)

APPENDIX.

291

Sciurus Kicharclsonii. (Bach.)
Pteromys Oregonensis. (Bach.)

— alpinus. (Richd.)
Spermophilus Townsendii. (Bach.)

- Douglassii. (Eichd.)

— Richardson!!. (Sabine.)

— Parryii. (Eichd.)

— lateralis. (Tay.)
Tamias quadrivittatus. (Say.)

— Townsendii. (Bach.)
Arctomys pruinosus. (Gmelin.)

— monax. (Linn.)

— Okanaganus. (King.)

CASTOEIN^:.

Aplodontia leporina. (Eichd.)
Castor canadensis. (Kulil.)

GEOMTINJE.

Thomomys Douglassii. (Eichd.)

— Umbrinus.

SACCOMYINjK

Perognathus monticola. (Baird.)

DIPODIN.E.
Jaculus Hudsonius.

MUEINJE.

Mus rattus. (Linn.)
Hesperomys austerus. (Baird.)

Hesperomys leucopus. (Leconte.)

— Boylii. (Baird.)
Neotoma cinerea. (Ord.)
Arvicola Oregoni. (Bach.)

FIBEE.

Fiber Zibethicus. (Cuvier.)

- Osoyoosensis. (Lord: sp. nov.)

HYSTEEICIDjE.

Erpthizon epixanthus. (Brandt.)

LEPOBID.ZE.
Lepus californicus. (Gray.)

— campestris. (Bach.)

- artimesia. (Bach.)
Lagomys princeps. (Richd.)

— minimus. (Lord : sp. nov.)

CEBVIN^E.

Alee americanus. (Jard.)
Eangifer caribou. (And. & Bach.)
Cerrus canadensis. (Erxl.)

— virginianus. (Bodd.)

— leucurus. (Doug.)

— columbianus. (Richd.)

— macrotis. (Say.)

CAVI CORNICE.

Antilocapra americana. (Ord.)
Aplocerus montanus. (Ord.)
montana. (Cuvier.)

List of the Birds, with notes of habitat and periods
of arrival and departure.

Raptores.

Cathatis aura

— californiauus .

Vancouver Island, and throughout

British Columbia. •
Mouth of Fraser River. Seldom

visits the interior.

U 2

292

APPENDIX.

Falco nigriceps

— columbaris

— sparverus
Astur atricapillus

Accipiter mexicanus

— Cooperii .

— fuscus

Buteo montanus .

Archibuteo lagopus
— ferruginous
Circus hudsonius .

Haliectus leucocephalus
Pandion Carolinensis .
Bubo virginianus
Scops asio .
Otus "Wilsonianus

Brachyotus Cassinii
Syrnium cineruin
Nyctale acadica .
Surnia uhila
G-laucidium gnoma

Nyctea nivea

P
Athene cunicularia

Sumass Prairie.

Vancouver Island, and throughout
British Columbia. Migratory.

Common in British Columbia. Win-
ters on Vancouver Island.

Lake Osoyoos, Shemeelkameen
Eiver. Arrives in May ; leaves
in October.

Both common east of the Cascades.
Only summer visitors.

More common on Vancouver Island
than either east or west of the
Cascades.

An abundant species. Seen con-
stantly east of the Cascades.

Sumass and Osoyoos Lakes.

Seen only at Sumass.

Abundant. Arrives in May and
June.

Throughout British Columbia and
Vancouver Island. Winters.

Seen near all lakes and rivers.
Winters at the island.

Abundant east and west of the
Cascades.

Bather a rare species. Winters
east of the Cascades.

Common throughout British Co-
lumbia.

Sumass and Chelukweynk prairies.

A rare species ; shot at Sumass only.

Obtained only east of the Cascades.

Hock Creek, Lake Osoyoos.

A rare and beautiful little species,
but seldom seen. Migratory ;
arriving at Vancouver Island in
May.

Not unfrequently seen near the
entrance to the Fraser Eiver.

Seen only east of the Cascades.

APPENDIX. 293

Picidce.

Picus Harrisii .... Vancouver Island, Sumass, Osoyoos.

Arrives in May. Winters at Van-
couver Island.

- Gairdneri .... Much as preceding.

— albolarratus .... A rare and beautiful species. Ob-

tained only east of the Cascades.
Picoides arcticus .... Obtained only east of the Cascades.

- hirsutus ..... East and west of the Cascades.
Hylatomus pileatus . . . Common east and west of the Cas-
cades.

Melanerpes torquatus . . . Shot only in the open timbered

lands, in British Columbia, east
of the Cascades.

Colaptis mexicanus . . . The most abundant of the summer

visitors to Vancouver Island and
British Columbia.

., Vancouver Island. Sumass, Osoyoos,

Sphyrapicus varms . . . ,, „ , „ , , . 1,

I valley of the Columbia. Both

— ruber [

) species.

Colaptes auratus . . ) 0 ,

I Seen only at Sumass.
(var.) hybridus . . . J

Trochilidce.

Trochilus Alexandri . . . Obtained only in the valley of the

Columbia.
Stellata Calliope .... Syniakwateen,and summit of Eocky

Mountains, 7,000 feet altitude.
Selasphorus rufus . . . Common on Vancouver Island and

throughout British Columbia.

Cypsilidce.

Nophocaetes niger . . . Sumass and Fort Colville.
Chaetura Vauxii .... Sumass only.

Caprimulgidce.

Chordeiles popetue . . . Vancouver Island and throughout

British Columbia.

294 APPENDIX.

Alcedinidce.

Ceryle Alcyon .... Very abundant,

Tyrannince.

Tyrannus carolinensis . . . Vancouver Island and throughout

British Columbia. Arrives in
May ; leaves in October.

— verticals .... As preceding.

Sayornis Say us .
Centopus borealis

Empidonax pusillus

All these Flycatchers are found in
British Columbia, and some of

Eichardsonii .... them also visit Vancouver Island:

arriving in May, and leaving in

— acaclicus . September and October.

— flaviventris

Turdidce.

Turdus migratorius

naevius

- The three species are plentifully
distributed, reaching Vancouver
Island in May, a little later in
British Columbia. Leave in

— Pallasii . October. A few only winter on

the island.

Sialia mexicana .... Common on Vancouver Island and

throughout British Columbia.

— arctica Seen only east of the Cascades ;

arriving in May ; flocking after
nesting ; leaving in October.

Regulus satrapa .... Very plentiful on Vancouver Island

and in British Columbia.

— calendula .... Seen only east of the Cascades.
Hydrobata mexicana . . . Very common on all rivers.

Sylvicolidce.

Anthiis ludovicianus . . . Common on grassy prairies. Shot

it only east of the Cascades, on
the Spokan and Grand Prairies.

APPENDIX. 295

Geothlypis trichas . . . Vancouver Island and British Co-
lumbia.

— Macgillivrayi .... Vancouver Island and British Co-
lumbia. May and October, ar-
rives and departs.

Helminthophaga celata . . Syniakwateen.

Dendroica Townsendii .

nigrescens
coronata
Audubonii
sestiva

These "Warblers have much the same
range in Vancouver Island and
British Columbia, arriving in
May and leaving in October,
maculosa

Myodioctes pusillus . . . Much the same as the Warblers.
Setophaga ruticilla . . . Syniakwateen only.
Pyranga ludoviciana . . . Generally distributed, and migra-
tory.

Hirundinidce.

Cotyle riparia

— serripennis
Hirundo horreorum

— thallassina

— bicolor .

— lunifrons

Much more plentiful east than west
of the Cascades. Arrive in May,
and leave in September.

Bombycillidce.

Ampelis garrulus . . . Shot only east of the Cascades.

— cedrorum .... Common on Vancouver Island, and

along the Fraser and Columbia
rivers.

Myadestis Townsendii . . . Very rare. Shot them once only in

the Columbia valley.

Laniidce.

Collyrio borealis .... Tolerably abundant.

Vireo olivaceus .... Syniakwateen.

— gilvus Syniakwateen.

— solitarius .... Sumass, Vancouver Island, Syniak-

wateen. All migratory.

296

APPENDIX.

Salpinctes obsoletus
Thriothorus Bewickii
Cistotherus palustris

Troglodites Parkmani
— hyemalis

Certhia americana

Sitta aculeata

— canadensis

— pygmea .

Parus occidentalis

— montanus

— rufescens
Psaltiparus minimus

Eremophila cornuta

Liotrichidce.

Vancouver Island and Sumass. Both
migratory.

All plentifully scattered about the
open timber, and round the edges
of prairies. Only summer visitors.

Certhiadce.

The only species found, and not by
any means plentiful.

Sittince.

Much the same distribution, the
two latter species being more
abundant east of the Cascades.

Paridce.

All four species abundant every-
where.

Alaudidce.

Sumass, Osoyoos, Vancouver Island,
and Grand Prairie.

Fringillidce.

Hesperiphona vespertina
Pinicola canadensis

Carpodacus californicus

— Cassinii .
Chysometris tristis

— pinus .

Curvirostra americana .
Aegiothus linaria

Syniakwateen, valley of the Co-
lumbia. Never saw them west of
the Cascades.

These are all abundant summer
residents, on both slopes of the
Cascades.

APPENDIX.

297

Leucosticte tephrocotis

Plectrophanes nivalis
Passerculus savanna

— sandwichensis
Chondestes grammaca
Zonotrichia Gambellii

— coronata

— albicollis
Junco oregonus

Spizella monticola

— socialis .

— Brewerii
Melospiza rufina .

— Lincolnii
Passerella Townsendii
Cyonospiza amcena

Summits of the Cascades and Rocky
Mountains. Very rare. Breeds
at an altitude of 7,000 feet above
the sea level.

Sumass, Fort Colville.

Common about the prairies and
open timbered lands. Arrive in
May, leave in September.

The most abundant small bird in
British Columbia. Arrives early
in May, and leaves in October.

Regular summer visitors.

Icteridce.

Agelaius phoeniceus
Molothrus pecoris
Sturnella neglecta
Icterus Bullockii
Scolecophagus cyanocephalus

Abundant in some localities only
during the nocking, after nesting.

Corvidce.

Cervus americana
— carnivorus

- caurinus

Picicorvus columbianus
Pica hudsonica
Cyanura Stelleri .
Perisoreus canadensis .

For description of habits, see chap-
ter on Crows, Vol. II.

298

APPENDIX.

Ectopistes migratoria ,
Columba fasciata .
Zenaidura carolinensis

ColumJbidcB.

Never seen in large flocks. Arrive
in May, and leave in October.

Tetraonidce.

Tetrao obscurus .
— Franklinii
Centrocercus urophasianus
Pediocaetes phasianellus
Bonasa Sabiuii
Lagopus rupestris

Vide chapter on Game Birds, Vol. II.

Grus canadensis .

GruidcK.

Very common east and "west of the
Cascades.

Ardea herodius
Botaurus lentiginosus .

Ardeidce.

Sumass prairies, Vancouver Island,
and streams east of the Cascades,
Osoyoos Lakes.

Aegialitis vociferus
Squaturola helvetica
Aphriza virgata .

Charadridce.

Common throughout British Co-
lumbia.

Not at all plentiful. Seen usually
on the mud flats at low tide.

Rare. Frequents rocks along the
sea-coast. Shot it at Nainimo
and Fort Kupert.

Haematopodidce.

Hsematopus palliatus .
Strepsilas melanocephalus

Common on the rocks in Esquimalt
Harbour.

APPENDIX.

299

Phalaropus hyperboreus

Gallinago "Wilsonii

Phalaropodidce.

In most streams east of the Cas-
cades. I also shot it in Esqui-
malt Harbour.

Scolopacidce.

Not very plentiful. Langley, Su-
mass, Osoyoos.

Macrorhamphus scolopaceus
Tringa subarquata

— alpina .

— maculata

— Bonapartii

— Wilsonii
Ereunetes petrificatus .
Tringoides macularia .
Gambetta flavipes
Heteroscelus brevipes .
Numineus longirostris .
Arctiturus Bartramius .
Tringites rufescens
Limosa fedoa

Fulica americana

Cygnus americanus
— buccinator

Anser hyperboreus

— Gambellii
Bernicla canadensis

— Hutchinsii

Anas boschas
Defila acuta
Nettion carolinensis
Querquedula discors

Most of these breed in British
Columbia, arriving in May and
leaving in October.

Arrive and breed as the above.

Vide Vol. II.

All three breed at the Osoyoos
Lakes.

Cygnince.

Common throughout British Co-
lumbia.

Anserince.

Vide Vol. II.

Anatince.

Common both on the coast and on
lakes and rivers inland.

300

APPENDIX.

Querquedula cyanoptera
Spatula clypeata .
Aix sponsa .
Chaulelasmus streperus
Mareca americana
Fulix marila

— affinis

— collaris .
Athya americana

— Tallisneria
Bticephala americana .

— islandica
- albeola .

Histrionicus torquatus
Harelda glacialis .
Melanetta velvetina
Pelionetta perspicillata
Oidemia americana
Erismatura rubida
Mergus serrator .
Lophodytes cucullatus .

Diomedia brachyura

— fuliginosa

" Eegiilar visitors.

Diomedeince.

Common in Puget's Sound, and in
the Gulf of Georgia.

Larus glaucescens

— argentatus

— occidentals .

— californicus

— delawarensis .

— Suckleyi
Blasipus Heermanni
Chroicocephalus Philadelphia
Kissa septentrionalis .

Laridce.

All found along the coast, and in
the Gulf of Georgia.

Pellicanus erythrorhyncus
— fuscus

Pellicanidce.

Kather rare. Found in Puget's
Sound; and the former at their
breeding grounds at the Klamath
Lakes.

APPENDIX.

301

Phalacrocoracidce.

Graculus cilophus

— riolaceus
Colymbus septentrionalis

— torquatus

Podiceps cornutus
- cristatus

— griseigena

— occidentalis
Podilymbus podiceps

Mormon cirrhata .
Cerorhina monocerata
Uria columba

All abundant about Fort Rupert.

Podicipince.

Common in all inland lakes and
streams.

Alcidce.

Found in the Gulf of Georgia.
Breed on the islands.

REPTILES.
ORDER I. CHELONIA— TURTLES.

ACTINEMYS MARMORATA. (AgaSS.)

The Western Pond Turtle.

I obtained these turtles at Walla-walla in the month
of June. They had left the streams, and were wandering
about in the grass to deposit their eggs. Apart from
the egg season, it is a most difficult matter to catch
them. I have seen them in nearly every lake and pool
east and west of the Cascades, They are also common
on Vancouver Island.*

* Vide Vol. I.

302 APPENDIX.

ORDER II. SAUKIA— THE LIZARDS.

ELGARIA PRINCIPIS. (Baird and Grirard.)
Spotted Elgaria.

I obtained specimens of this lizard at Walla-walla
and on the banks of the Chelukweyuk river. I found
it in both cases under stones, in turning them over to
hunt for beetles. Dr. Suckley records it as being found
west of the Cascade range, but I never met with it ; I
should not say that it was by any means an abundant
species.

PHRYNOSOMA CORNUTUM. (Gray.)

This species is much larger than Tapaya Douglassii,
and has a much more extensive geographic range. The
specimens I brought home were obtained on the open
sandy plains laying north of the Klamath lakes — these
plains appear to be its limit north, beyond this Tapaya
Douglassii replaces it — and also on the sunny hill sides
at Colville. Whether it is to be found along the coast
range, or west of the Cascade mountains, I am not sure ;
at any rate I never saw it there. Its colour very nearly
approximates the basaltic piles, in the cracks of which
it lives.

TAPAYA DOUGLASSII. (Grirard.)
The Oregon Horned Toad.

I never saw this singular looking lizard on the west
slope of the Cascades, but they abound on the sand

APPENDIX. 303

plains on each side of the Columbia river ; * I also saw
them on the Tobacco plains, between the Kootanie
river and the Gralton mountains, and in the Flathead
valley, which is about 4,199 feet above the sea level.
They live on the dry sandy plains, and run so much
like a mouse that I have often been deceived, and
taken them for small mammals. They live in holes
generally at the roots of a wild sage (the Artemesia)
bush, and are perfectly harmless, although their looks
sadly belie them. I have frequently taken them in
my hand, and they neither bite or attempt to use
their spines for defensive purposes. I obtained another
species, much larger than this, on the sand plains near
the Klamath Lakes, that does not appear to range as
far north as this smaller species. — Vide P. cornutum.

OPHIDIA— THE SERPENTS.

CKOTALUS LUCIFER. (Baird and Girard.)
The Western Rattlesnake.

The Eattlesnake, I believe I may safely say, is never
found west of the Cascade range, neither is it in any
great abundance north of the Columbia river ; but at
the Dalles, the Snake, Pelouse, and Spokan rivers,
indeed I may say at every station along the entire Bndy.
Line, and high up on the slopes of the Rocky
Mountains its name is legion. I have often, when
climbing a sunny hill-side, seen a rattlesnake coiled
up on nearly every ledge and flat-lying stone. Speci-
mens obtained at different localities vary very much
in colour, both in the ground colour and mark-

* Vide Vol. II.

304 APPENDIX.

ings; and I am inclined to think the marking and
general hue of the snake depends in a great degree
on the nature of the rocks, or colour of the ground
whereon it lives.

I never once saw the rattlesnake attempt to spring
at or attack either man, dog, or horse. I have again
and again teased a large rattlesnake with a twig, but
never succeeded in provoking to attack me. Very
sluggish in all its movements, and remarkably fond of
creeping in the dust.

The Indian women use the rattle of the snake, both
on the east and west side of the Eocky Mountains,
either to produce abortion, or, as ergot of rye (Secede
cornutum), is used by physicians to produce uterine
contraction. The rattle has evidently some specific
effect on the uterine tissues. I do not think there is
more than one species west of the Eocky Mountains.

BASCANION VETUSTUS. (Baird and GKrard.)

The Green Racer.

This snake I obtained at Sumass and Chelukweyuk
prairies, and along the Bndy. Line east of the Cascades.
Its favourite haunt appears to be in the thin brush
skirting the edges of open prairie land, and the princi-
pal part of its time in the summer appears to be passed
in the bushes, up the stems of which it climbs with
great ease and celerity ; when there, it lazily basks away
its time coiled round a branch. I suspect tree frogs
arid insect larvas constitute its usual food.*

* Vide Vol. I.

APPENDIX. 305

WENONA PLUMBEA. (Baird and Girard.)
The Wood Snake.

Not at all uncommon on the Sumass and Cheluk-
weyuk prairies; frequents dark shady spots, or long-
grass round the edges of pools. I never met with any
east of the Cascades.

WENONA ISABELLA. (Baird and Girard.)

Much the same in habits and distribution as the
above ; common in the woods along the bank of the
Chelukweyuk river. Both these snakes are also found
on Vancouver Island.

BATRACHIA.

ANOUEA (TAILLESS BATEACHIANS).
BUFO BOREAS. (Baird and Girard.)

This toad is common east and west of the Cascades,
on the Sumass and Chelukweyuk prairies, in the valley
of the Columbia, and on the Spokan prairies ; fond of
lurking in damp, dark underbrush and long grass found
also on Vancouver Island.

BUFO COLUMBIENSIS.

The Columbian Toad.

Very common along the banks of the Columbia, and
extending up the western slopes of the Eocky Moun-
tains ; fond of damp shady situations, especially the
wooded edges of pools and lakes ; in the summer time
it frequently goes into the water.

VOL. II. X

306 APPENDIX.

There are two or three specimens of snakes I brought
home not yet made out, which will perhaps be found to
be new species.

EUTAINIA PICKERINGII. (Baird and Girard.)
Pickering's Garter Snake.

This snake I found on the Sumass and Chelukweyuk
prairies, as well as along the entire course of the Bndy.
Line to the Eocky Mountains. I also saw it in Cali-
fornia and Oregon.

They come out of their winter sleeping places in
May, and then lay about the edges of the brush, lazily
sunning themselves. About a month later coupling
time arrives, when they get near the water, and are
usually seen in small groups. In the hot summer
weather they spend nearly the whole of their time in
the water. They are quite harmless, and feed princi-
pally on small Batrachians and insects.

EUTAINIA LEPTOCEPHALA. (Baird and Girard.)

The Small-headed Striped Snake.
The same remarks apply to this as E. Pickeringii.

EUTAINIA VAGRANS. (Baird and Girard.)
The Large-headed Striped Snake.

The same range and habits as the two preceding
species.

EUTAINIA CONCINNA.

The One-striped Garter Snake.

Not so common on the west of the Cascades as the
preceding species of Garter snakes, but I saw it at

APPENDIX. 307

Sumass, and on the trail that crosses the Cascade range
from Fort Hope to Colville.

All the Grarter snakes found along the course of Bndy.
Line are very similar to each other, not only in habit
but in the distribution of the markings ; all are harm-
less, and may be handled with impunity.

PETUOPHIS WILKESII. (Baird and Gfirard.)
Oregon Bull Snake.

This snake attains a much larger size than any other
species in this district; I have frequently seen them
three or four feet long. The snake is common on
both sides of the Cascades ; in the spring it keeps on
the grassy prairie land, but in the hot weather retires
to the shores of lakes and ponds, or the margins of
streams, and spends much of its time in the water.
Although quite harmless, it assumes a most menacing
attitude when suddenly surprised on the open plain,
curling itself up into a spiral, and hissing furiously.
I obtained one very large specimen near Colville,
another at Sumass, and a third near the foot of the
Gralton Mountains. I never saw it on Vancouver Island,
although I think it is very likely that it lives there in
the open valley land.

I obtained another species of Petuophis, but it has
not yet been determined or named.

ELGARIA GRANDIS. (Baird and Girard.)
Banded Elgaria.

I obtained this beautiful lizard at the Blacksmith's
Camp, on the Chelukweyuk river; I also saw it at

X 2

308 APPENDIX.

Walla-walla on the banks of the Columbia. The hot
sandy plains about Walla-walla seem to be a favourite
haunt for several species of lizards. The wild sage grows
about in tufts or patches, and under the roots live the
lizards: the sand is covered with their tracks; they are so
sharp and active that it is very difficult to catch them.

SCELOPOEUS OCCIDENTALS.

Western Fence Lizard.

This lizard is very common on the sand plains along
the banks of the Columbia river. I also obtained it at
Colville (altitude above sea level 1,268 feet). I never
saw it west of the Cascades, although Dr. Suckley
mentions it as being found at Steilacum. Its habit is
to frequent dead timber and to hide under stones and
fallen logs ; it often climbs into the pine trees, and all
its motions are very agile and graceful.

SCELOPORUS GRACIOSUS. (Baird and Grirard.)
Slender Fence Lizard.

This lizard is very common on the large masses of
basaltic rocks * that start up like ogres' castles on the
sand plains between Walla-walla and Colville. I saw
a great many of them at the Snake river ferry, on the
rocks about the Pelouse river.

UBADELA (TAILED BATEACHIANS).

TARICHA TOROSA. (Gray. Cat. Brit. Mus. 1 1-1656, p. 25.)

The Warty Salamander.

A widely-distributed species found east and west of
the Cascades, and on the western slope of the Rocky

* Vide Vol. II.

APPENDIX.

309

Mountains; its haunts are in dark damp situations,
where it remains for hours on a log or a stone perfectly
still; when in motion its mode of progression is slow
and lazy. I believe it passes the winter buried deeply
in the sand or in damp earth banks. I saw a salamander
that I imagine was this species (but did not obtain it)
on Ptarmigan hill* near some running water ; this was
late in the year (October), and 7,000 feet above the sea
level. I also obtained specimens at Sumass and Colville.

LIST OF COLEOPTEEA.

The new species are distinguished by an *.

GEODEPHAGA. (Mac Leay.) Amara. (Bon.)

*extensa. (Walk.)
communis.

Cicindela. (Linn.)
vulgaris.

CAKABID.K.

Elaphrus. (Fabr.)

intermedius. (Kirby.)
Calosoma. (Weber.)

*irregulare. (Walk.)
Callisthenes.

*pirneloides. (Walk.)
Carabus. (Auct.)

*bicolor. (Walk.)
Cychrus. (Fabr.)

angusticollis. (Eschs.)
tuberculatus. (Harris.)
Chl&nius. (Bon.)

sericeus. (Dej.)
Agonum. (Bon.)
seminitidum.
Ptcrostichus. (Auct.)
*calligatus. (Walk.)
validus. (Lee.)
similis. (Kirby.)

HARPAUDJE.

Anisodactylus. (Dej.)

calif ornicus.
Harpalus. (Latr.)
*defixus. (Walk.)

BEMBIDIID2E.

Bembidium. (Latr.)
*sequalis. (Walk.)

HYDRADEPHAGA. (Mac Leay.)
Dytiscus. (Linn.)

Ooligbukii. (Kirby.)
Acilius. (Leach.)

semisulcatus. (Aube.)
Hydaticus. (Leach.)

zonatus. (Koppe.)
Tropisternus. (Sol.)

*binotatus. (Walk.)
Laccophilus. (Leach.)

maculosus. (Linn.)

* Vide Vol. I.

310

APPENDIX.

BRACHELYTRA.

A1EOCHA.RID.ZE.

Atemeles. (Dill.)
*reflexa. (Walk.)

STAPHY1IMDJE.

CreophUus. (Kirby.)
villosus.

MECROPHAGA.

Mecrophorus.

Melsheimeri. (Kirby.)
*conversator. (Walk.)

HISTEEID.3E.

Saprinus. (Erich.)

*consimilis. (Walk.)
*fimbriatus.
Trogosita. (Oliv.)

maiiritanica. (Linn.)
virescens. (Fabr.)

DERMESTID-E.

Dermestes, (Linn.)

lardarius. (Linn.)

CUCUJIDJE.
Cucujus.

puniceus. (Mann.)

HYDBOPHELID.ZE.

Hydrous. (Leach.)

triangularis. (Say.)
Philhydnts. (Sol.)
*liyidus. (Walk.)

LAlVtELLICORNES.

CETONIID^E.

Cremastochilus.

*armatus. (Walk.)

EUTELIDJE.

Anomda. (Koppe.)

*contermina. (Walk.)

Ancylonica.

*nigropicea. (Walk.)
*consequens. (Walk.)
*uninotata. (Walk.)

MELOLONTHID.2E.

Ehizotrogus.

*collocatus. (Walk.)
Serica. (Mac Leay.)

*crassata. (Walk.)
Mclolontha.

decernlineata. (Say.)

Coprobius. (Latr.)
simplex. (Lee.)

EUPLUETJS.
subterraneus.

BUPBESTID.E.

Dircea.

tuberculata. (Harris.)
CJialeophora. (Sol.)

angiilicollis. (Lee.)
Ancylocheira. (Eschs.)

rusticorum. (Kirby.)

aurulentum.
*ornata. (Walk.)
Trachyptcris.

prasina. (Lee.)

decolorata. (Lass. & Gar.)

ELATERIDJE.

Alaus.

luscus. (Fabr.)
Adelocera.

*vetusta. (Walk.)
Athoits. (Eschs.)

*vittatus. (Walk.)
Selatosomus.

*semimetallicus. (Walk.)

Limonius. (Eschs.)
*consimilis. (Walk.)

APPENDIX.

311

CLEKID.E.

Clerus.

sobrius. (Walk.)

nubilus. (Khig.)
Corynetes. (Herbst.)

violaceus. (Fabr.)

HETEEOMEEA.

BLAPTID^E.

Elcodes. (Eschs.)

*convexicollis. (Walk.)
*conjuncta. (Walk.)
*latiuscula. (Walk.)
*subtuberculata. (Walk.)

caudata. (Sol.)
*binotata. (Walk.)

CONIOTID^).

Coniontis ovalis. (Eschs.)

CCELOMETOPID.&.

C&locnemis.

californica? (Mann.)
dentipes. (Esch.)

TENEBRIONID.E:.

Iphthinus.

*servilis. (Walk.)
*servator. (Walk.)
*subligatus. (Walk.)

MELOIDJE.

Lytta.

*immerita. (Walk.)
vesicatoria. (Linn.)
Nemognatha.

*bicolor. (Walk.)

HELOPID^.

Hdops.

*inclusus. (Walk.)
Eusattus. (Lecont.)
muricatus. (Lee.)

EHYNCHOPHOEA.

Ehynchites. (Herbst.)
*congrua. (Walk.)

LONGICOENES.

PRIONID.S:.
Prionus. (Geoff.)

pocularis. (Dahl.)
Macrotoma.

spiculigera. (WHte.)
Spondylus.

apiformis.

CEEAMBTCID^:.

Clytus. (Fabr.)
Sayi. (Lory.)
Erioccphalus.

productus. (Lee.)

LAMIAD^E.

Monohammus.

clamator. (Lee.)
resiitor. (Kirby.)
Eutrypanus.

*princeps. (Walk.)

LEPTTJEIDJE.

Trypoccrus.

*cervinus. (Walk.)
Leptura.

annulata. (Lory.)
chrysocoma. (Kirby.)
Toxotus.

*perductor. (Walk.)
Pachyta.
litura.

sexmacnlata.
Graptodera.

plicapennis.
^ryptocephalus.

*bisignatus. (Walk.)
hclymorpha.
Argus.

312 APPENDIX.

ORDER. COLEOPTEKA.

Fam. CARABIDJE. (Mac Leay,) — Genus CALOSOMA.

(Weber.)

Calosoma irregulare. N. S.

^Eneo-nigrum, capite antico ruguloso, thorace subiliter
ruguloso, stria media, lateribus retusis valde convexis ;
elytris rugosis lineis sex e punctis auratis punctis, sub-
marginalibus auratis minoribus.

^Eneous black; black beneath. Head rugulose in
front, with an impression and a retuse border on each
side. Thorax more finely rugulose than the head, with

i' O

an impressed middle line, retuse and very convex along
each side. Elytra less finely rugulose than the head ;
each with three discal lines of gilded points, and with
a submarginal line of more minute gilded points.
Length of the body, 12 lines.

This species has no regular striated lines on the
elytra, and is therein quite different from C. calidum
and from C. frigidum. It is allied to the Siberian (7.
denticella and to two species from California and Van-
couver Island.

Genus CALLISTHENES. (Fischer.)
Callisthenes pimelioides. N. S.

Nigra, brevis, lata, obscura, subtilissime punctata;
capitis lateribus retusis, excavatis, disco antico sublevi ;
thorace lateribus subconvexis, subretusis, stria media
tenui ; elytris lineis pustularibus lateribus valde rotund-
atis.

APPENDIX. 313

Calosoma black, short, broad, thick, dull. Head and
thorax very finely and thickly punctured. Head in
front, with an almost smooth disc, and a retuse and
excavated border on each side. Thorax slightly convex
and retuse along each side, narrower hindward, with a
slight impressed middle line. Elytra very convex on
each side ; each with about seventeen lines of minute
pustules. Length of the body, 8 lines.

It is somewhat allied to an undescribed Callisthenes
from California, but is quite distinct.

Genus CARABUS. (Linn.)
Carabus bicolor. N. S.

Niger, breviusculus, subtilissime punctatus ; thorace
stria media bene determinata; lateribus subconvexis,
angulis posticis productis ; elytris cupreis lineis sex e
pustulis elongatis nigris ; lateribus subconvexus.

Black, rather short. Head and thorax very minutely
punctured, the former with the usual impression on
each side in front. Thorax with an impressed distinctly
marked middle line ; sides slightly convex ; hind angles
produced, extending over the fore border of the elytra.
Elytra cupreous; each with three lines of elongated
black pustules, and with a submarginal line of minute
impressions ; sides slightly convex. Length of the body,
8 lines.

This belongs to the group of C. ligatus and of C.
Mceander, which it resembles in the sculpture of the
elytra.

314 APPENDIX.

Fam. FEEONIID^:. (De Laporte.) — Genus OJIASEUS.

(Zeigler.)

Omaseus colligatus. N. S.

Foem. niger, nitens ; thorace postice subcontracto
sulco transverse antico excavate stria media striis
duabus lateralibus parvis margine postico ruguloso ;
elytris obscuris striatis punctis octo impressis lineis
duabus submarginalibus punctularibus lateribus subapi-
calibus subexcavatis.

Female.— Black. Head and thorax shining, almost
smooth. Head in front with a slight transverse im-
pressed line, and with two broad longitudinal minutely-
punctured furrows. Thorax slightly contracted hind-
ward, rugulose along the hind border, with a curved
transverse impressed line in front, with a distinct
middle impressed line, and with two short impressed
lines which extend to one-third of the length from the
hind border. Elytra dull ; each with eight longitudinal
lines, with a row of slight submarginal excavations, and
with four punctures — first, third, and fourth punctures,
on the third line ; second puncture, on the second line ;
exterior border, with a very slight subapical excavation.
Length of the body, 7 lines.

Genus AMARA. (Bonelli).
Amara extensa. N. S.

Nigra, capite foveolis duabus e linea transversa
impressa connexis ; thorace stria tenui postice subtiliter
ruguloso sulculis duobus lateralibus ; elytris elongatis

APPENDIX. 315

subobscuris lineis bene determinatis, palpis tarsisque
piceis, antennis basi runs.

Black, smooth, shining. Head in front with two
slight discal impressions, which are connected by a
slight transverse impressed line. Thorax slightly broader
hindward, with a slight impressed line; space along the
hind border minutely rugulose, with two short broad
longitudinal furrows. Elytra elongate, slightly dull;
each with eight distinctly marked lines, and with minute
punctures along the exterior border. Palpi and tarsi
piceous. First and second joints of the antennae red.
Length of the body, 4 lines.

This species has a somewhat narrower body and more
elongated thorax than A. vulgaris, which also inhabits
North America.

AMARA COMMUNIS. (Gyllenhahl.)

^Enea, nitens, capite stria transversa antica stria
media foveolisque duabus lateralibus posticis; elytris
striatis ex parte nigricante seneis.

yEneous, smooth, shining. Clypeus, antennaa, legs
and underside black. Head with a transverse impressed
line in front. Thorax with a slight impressed line, and
on each side with a slight impression near the hind
border, at half the distance between the line and the
exterior border. Elytra partly blackish seneous, with
the usual eight longitudinal lines on each, and with
impressions along the exterior border. Length of the
body, 3 lines.

This species agrees exactly with the European A.
communis. In sculpture it comes between A. Iwvi-

316 APPENDIX.

pennis and A. discors of British North America, and
the elytra are somewhat shorter than those of A. cali-
fornica.

Fam. HARPALID^E. (Mac Leay.) — Genus HARPALUS.

(Latr.

Harpalus defixus. N. S.

Niger, nitens, antennis rufesecentibus ; thorace stria
antica media, striseque media tenuissimis spatio postico
ruguloso sulculis duobus lateralibus, elytris striatis.

Male black, smooth, shining ; antennge reddish ;
thorax slightly excavated in the disc on each side hind-
ward ; very slightly rugulose along the hind border,
with a longitudinal impressed line, and in front with a
transverse impressed line, both extremely slight. Each
elytron with nine impressed lines. Tibise and tarsi
piceous. Length of the body, 4| lines.

Closely allied to H. ceneus. The sides of the thorax
are less rounded than those of H. interpunctatus, ro-
tundicollis, laticollis, and carbonarius of British
North America, and it is very distinct from other
North American species, such as H. pleuriticus, H.
basilaris, and H. ochropus.

Fam. BOMBIDIID.E. (Staph.) — Genus PERYPHUS.

(Megerle.)

Peryphus cequalis. N. S.

Subaeneo viridis ; capite antico bisulcato ; palpis, an-
tennis, pedibusque nigris ; thorace stria media margine
postico bifo violate ; elytris striatis punctis duobus
impressis.

APPENDIX. 317

Green, slightly tinged with seneous. Head with a
longitudinal furrow on each side in front ; palpi, an-
tennae, and legs black. Thorax with an impressed
middle line, and with an impression on each side by the
hind border. Elytra with distinctly marked impressed
lines, and with two punctures on the third line from
the interior border. Length of the body, 3^ lines.

Quite distinct from the American P. sordidus and
P. scapularis.

Fann. DYTICIDJE. (Leach.) — Genus L^ECOPHILUS.

(Leach.)

LcBcophilus maculosus. N. S.

Piceus ; capite thoraceque obscure ; ochraceis elytris
vittis duabus marginalibus ochraceis postice abbreviatis
et flexis, punctis duobus posticis marginalibus ochraceis ;
abdomine ochraceo ; pedibus obscure ochraceis.

Piceous, smooth, shining. Head and thorax mostly
dark ochraceous. Elytra with two ochraceous stripes,
which widen from the base along full half the length
of the exterior border, and are there bent, and terminate
in a short streak towards the disk ; two hindward mar-
ginal ochraceous points on each elytron. Abdomen
ochraceous. Legs dark ochraceous. Length of the
body, 3 lines.

It also inhabits the northern states of America.

Fam. ALEOCIIARID^E. (Leach.) — Genus ATEMELES.

(Dillwyn.)

Atemeles reflexus. N. S.
Ferrugineo rufus, latus ; antennis piceis basi ferru-

318 APPENDIX.

gineo rufis incrassatis ; thoracis lateribus valde dilatatis ;
femoribus latis ; tibiis subarcuatis ; tarsis setosis.

Ferruginous red, broad. Antennae piceous, shorter
than the body ; first joint ferruginous red, incrassated.
Thorax much dilated on each side ; hind angles
prominent, rounded ; elytra smooth, shining, cover-
ing almost one-third of the length of the abdomen.
Legs moderately long ; femora broad ; tibiae slightly
curved ; tarsi setose. Length of the body, 2^ lines.

Fam. HTDROPIIILIDJ;. (Leach.) — Genus TROPISTERNUS.

(Solier.)

Tropistemus binotatus. N. S.

Cupreo-niger, viridi subnitens ; capitis lateribus
anticis ochraceis ; thorace vittis duabus latis rnarginali-
bus ochraceis, maculas duas nigrocupreas includentibus ;
elytris vittis duabus marginalibus ochraceis postice at-
tenuatis intus excavatis, pedibus piceis.

Cupreous black, elliptical, partly and slightly tinged
with green. Antennae underside black. Head dark
ochraceous along each side in front. Thorax with two
broad marginal dull ochraceous stripes, each with an
oblong oblique cupreous black spot near the hind
border. Elytra bordered with dull ochraceous along
the sides of the scutellum and along the exterior border ;
the two stripes are attenuated hind ward, and are irre-
gular and excavated on the inner side. Legs piceous.
Length of the body, 6 lines.

It is especially distinguished from the other North
and South American species by the black mark on each
side of the thorax.

APPENDIX. 319

Genus PHILYDRUS. (Solier.)
Philydrus lividus. (Forster.)

Luridus, ellipticus, subtilissime punctatus ; thorace
nigricante subnebuloso ; elytris lineis nigricantibus valde
indistinctis.

Lurid, shining, elliptical, extremely minutely punc-
tured. Head with a black band along the hind border.
Thorax slightly clouded with blackish. Elytra with
regular but very minute and indistinct blackish lines.
Length of the body, 2| lines.

There is no perceptible difference between this species
and the European specimens of Pkilydrus lividus.

Fam. HISTERID.E. (Leach.) — Genus SAPRINUS.

(Erichson.)

Saprinus consimilis. N. S.

Ater, glaberrima; capite, thoracis lateribus, elytrisque
postice subtilissime punctatis; elytris striis octo sub-
obliquis subtilissimis postice abbreviatis, abdomine sub-
tilissime punctate.

Deep black, very smooth and shining. Head, sides
of the thorax, and elytra, excepting the fore disk, less
shining, and very minutely punctured. Each elytron
with four slightly oblique, finely impressed lines, which
extend from the base to a little beyond the middle.
Abdomen very finely and minutely punctured, extend-
ing very much beyond the elytra. Length of the body,
2| lines.

Nearly allied to S. assimilis, but the body is rather
narrower, and the borders of the elytra are less rounded.

320 APPENDIX.

Fain. SILPHID.E. (Leach.) — Genus NECROPHORUS.

(Fabr.)

Necrophorus conversator. N. S.

Niger, obscurus; subtiliter punctatus; capite nitente,
subtilissime punctate sulcis duobus, postice connexis;
thorace marginibus latis subreflexis ; elytris maculis
sex ochraceis.

Black, dull, thickly and minutely punctured. Head
shining, very minutely punctured, with two furrows,
which converge, and are connected hindward. Thorax
with a broad and slightly elevated rim ; transverse line
in front, and longitudinal line distinctly impressed.
Elytra with six ochraceous spots, of which four form
an interrupted band before the middle, and the other
two are near the hind border. Abdomen extending
much beyond the elytra ; four segments uncovered.
Length of the body, 9 lines.

It is quite distinct from the North American N.
hebes, obscurus, Hallii, Melsheimeri, pygmceus, and
velutinus. In the markings of the elytra it resembles
N. defodiens, but the scutellum is much smaller.

Fam. ATONIID.E. (Mac Leay.) — Genus CREMASTOCHEILUS.

(Enoch.)

Cremastocheilus armatus. N. S.

Niger, aspere punctatus ; capite bicornutos ; thoracis
angulis posticis valde productis ; elytris litura basali
pallida ; femoribus tibiisque valde dilatatis.

Black, dull, roughly punctured. Head deeply retuse
in front, with an acute projection on each side in front

APPENDIX. 321

of the eye. Thorax with the four angles smooth, much
produced and very prominent, the hind angles especially
so. Elytra broader than the thorax, and a little more
than twice its length ; each with a pale basal mark.
Abdomen with a protuberance on each side at the tip ;
apical segment vertical. Femora and tibia? punctured,
much dilated. Length of the body, 6 lines.

It may be distinguished from C. mexicanus by the
much more protuberant hind angles of the thorax, and
by the pale mark at the base of the elytra.

Genus ANOMALA. (Koppe.)
Anomala t contermina. N. S.

Badia, subtiliter punctata ; capite, thorace, pectoreque
canopilosis; abdomini ochraceo ; elytris pallide cervinis
cano subpubescentibus.

Chestnut colour, finely punctured. Head, thorax,
and pectus clothed with hoary hairs. Clypeus retuse.
Thorax broadest across the hind border, which is slightly
convex; sides convex. Abdomen ochraceous. Elytra
pale fawn colour, with thin hoary pubescence, broader
than the thorax, and about thrice its length. Length
of the body, 5 lines.

Fain. MELOLONTHID^E. (MacLeay.) — Genus BHIZOTROGTJS.

(Latr.)

Rhisotrogus collocatus. N. S.

Badius, subtiliter punctatus ; thoracis lateribus abdo-
minis marginibus pedibusque fulvo pilosis ; elytris
striis paucis indistinctis.

VOL. II. T

322 APPENDIX.

Chestnut brown, finely punctured, a little paler
beneath. Clypeus with a retuse transversely semi-
elliptical border. Sides of the thorax, borders of the
abdomen, and legs with long tawny hairs. Thorax
much broader hindward than in front; sides convex.
Elytra with a few indistinct striae, broader than the
thorax, and more than thrice its length. Length of
the body, 8 lines.

Genus ANCYLONYCHA. (Dejean.)

Ancylonycha nigropicea. N. S.

Nigricante picea; capite, thorace confertim et subtiliter
punctata; thoracis lateribus convexis; elytris punctato
lineatis.

Blackish piceous, thickly and finely punctured. Cly-
peus short, slightly retuse, slightly excavated in front.
Thorax broadest along the hind border ; sides convex.
Elytra with numerous lines of punctures, broader than
the thorax, and about four times its length. Abdomen
very finely punctured, projecting a little beyond the
elytra. Length of the body, 8j% lines.

Ancylonycha consequens. N. S.

Obscure picea ; pectore; abdomine, antennis, pedibus-
que piceis ; capite thoraceque confertissime punctatis ;
thoracis lateribus convexis ; elytris punctato lineatis.

Dark piceous. Underside, antenna, and legs piceous.
Head and thorax very thickly punctured. Clypeus
slightly impressed in front. Thorax much broader than
the head ; sides convex. Elytra with regular lines of
punctures, a little broader than the thorax, and about

APPENDIX. 323

thrice its length. Abdomen projecting very little
beyond the elytra. Length of the body, 5^ lines.

This species is very nearly allied to the preceding
one, but may be distinguished by its smaller size, its
more thickly punctured head and thorax, and its shorter
elytra.

Ancylonycha uninotata. N. S.

Badia; capite thoraceque confertim punctatis; thoracis
disco subimpresso; pectore pilis fulvis dense vestito;
elytris subcarinatis subtiliter punctatis et rugulosis.

Chestnut colour. Head and thorax thickly punctured.
Clypeus very slightly excavated in front. Thorax -with
a small and slight excavation in the disk. Pectus
thickly clothed with long tawny hairs. Elytra minutely
punctured and rugulose, with four slight ridges, but not
with lines of punctures, full thrice the length of the
thorax. Abdomen thinly punctured, extending some-
what beyond the elytra. Length of the body, 10 lines.

Genus SEEICA. (Mac Leay.)

Serica crassata. N. S.

Nigra, brevis, ]ata, crassa, obscura; subtilissime punc-
tata ; antennis pedibusque piceis ; elytris striatis.

Black, short, broad, thick, dull, very minutely punc-
tured. Clypeus with a slightly retuse border. An-
tennas and legs piceous. Thorax broadest across the
hind border, where it is almost twice the breadth of
the head; sides very slightly convex. Elytra much
broader than the thorax, and more than twice its
length ; each with about nine impressed lines. Length
of the body, 4 lines.

Y 2

324 APPENDIX.

Fam. BUPKESTID^E. (Leach.) — Genus ANCTLOCHEIRA.

(Eschscholtz.)

Ancylochira ornata. N. S.

Aureo-viridis ; capite thoraceque confertim punctatis
stria longitudinal! ; elytris punctate lineatis cupreo
bivittatis ; abdomine subtus fasciis auratis apice cupreo.

Bright golden green. Head and thorax thickly punc-
tured, with an impressed longitudinal line. Elytra with
deeply impressed punctured lines, with a purplish
tinge on each side in front, full four times the
length of the thorax. Abdomen beneath with a short

O

gilded band on the fore border of each segment ; tip
cupreous. Length of the body, 9 lines.

The cupreous stripes on the elytra of this species
distinguish it from A. aurulenta, and from A. decora,

Fam. ELATERID.E. (Leach.) — Genus ADELOCERA.

(Latr.)

Adelocera vetusta. N. S.

Nigra, confertim et subtiliter punctata, squamis
cinereis ex parte tecta ; thorace postice impresso mar-
gine bis inciso, angulis posticis subproductis ; elytris
substriatis.

Black, dull, thickly and minutely punctured, mostly
covered with cinereous scales ; these are mostly con-
fluent, but are here and there isolated, so that various
parts of the surface are uncovered. Thorax with a
broad shallow excavation in the hinder disk ; the margin
with two shallow excavations on each side ; hind angles

APPENDIX. 325

slightly produced. Elytra with slight and indistinct
striae, more than twice the length of the thorax. Length
of the body, 8 lines.

Genus ATHOUS. (Eschscholtz.)
Athous quadrivittatus. N. S.

Niger ; capite thorace confertissime et subtilissime
punctatis ; thorace pectoreque rufescente bivittatis ;
thoracis angulis posticis attenuates acutis ; elytris luteis
punctato striatis, suturis piceis, tibiis tarsisque piceis.

Black, shining. Head and thorax very minutely
and thickly punctured. Thorax and pectus with a broad
reddish stripe on each side ; hind angles produced into
two acute spines. Elytra dull luteous, more than twice
the length of the thorax ; each with nine distinct regu-
lar punctured striae ; sutures piceous, except towards the
base; tibias and tarsi piceous. Length of the body,

7 lines.

Genus LIMONIUS. (Eschscholtz.)

Limonius consimilis. N. S.

Niger, nitens, subtiliter punctatus ; thoracis angulis
elongatis acutis ; elytrorum striis bene determinatis.

Black, shining, minutely punctured. Hind angles of
the thorax elongate, acute. Elytra with the usual
distinct regular strise, more than twice the length of
the thorax. Length of the body, 3^ lines.

Genus DIACANTHUS. (Latr.)
Diacanthus semimetallicus. N. S.
Niger; capite thoraceque confertissime et subtilissime
punctatis ; thorace linea media impressa, angulis posticis

326 APPENDIX.

productis, sulcatis, acutis ; elytris ffineo-nigris striatis
subtilissime rugulosis, basi subsulcatis.

Black. Head and thorax dull, extremely thickly and
minutely punctured. Thorax with a slight impressed
middle line; hind angles produced into two acute
furrowed spines. Elytra aBneous black, shining, ex-
tremely minutely rugulose, with many regular distinct
striae, full twice the length of the thorax ; each elytron
with a slight excavation in the disk at the base. Length
of the body, 8 lines.

Fam. TELLID^E. (Leach.) — Genus CLERUS. (Geoffrey.)
Clerus sobrius. N. S.

Cupreo niger, nitens, asperepunctatus; capite thorace-
que cinereo pilosis ; elytris fascia cinerea lata incisa.

Cupreous black, shining, thinly and coarsely punc-
tured. Head and thorax with cinereous hairs. Elytra
with a broad cinereous middle band, which is narrower
on each side, and is notched in front and behind. Length
of the body, 5 lines.

This species is very different from the Californian
C. holosericeus.

Fam. BLAPSHLE. (Latr.) — Genus IPHTHINUS. (Dej.)
Iphtkinus sevvilis. N. S.

Niger, confertissime et subtilissime punctatus ; capite
thoraceque obscuris; thoracis lateribus convexis non
retusis, angulis acutis ; elytrorum lineis e punctis elon-
gatis.

APPENDIX. 327

Black, very thickly and minutely punctured. Head
and thorax dull. Head with an indistinct transverse
impressed line in front of the eyes. Thorax almost
twice broader than the head ; sides convex, not retuse ;
hind angles prominent, acute. Elytra slightly shining,
subfusiform, broader than the thorax, and nearly thrice
its length, with regular lines of elongated punctures.
Length of the body, 1 1 lines.

Iphthinus servator. N. S.

Niger, confertissime et subtilissime punctatus ; capite
thoraceque obscuris ; thoracis lateribus subconvexis, an-
tice retusis, angulis posticis subproductis ; elytris sub-
nitentibus lineis e punctis elongatis.

Black, very thickly and minutely punctured. Head
and thorax dull. Thorax much broader than the head ;
sides slightly convex, retuse in front; hind angles
slightly prominent. Elytra subfusiform, slightly shin-
ing, broader than the thorax, and nearly thrice its length,
with regular lines of elongated punctures. Length of
the body, 1 1 lines.

This species hardly differs from the preceding one,
with the exception of the structure of the thorax.

Iphtkinus subligatus. N. S.

Niger, confertissime et subtilissime punctatus ; capite
thoraceque obscuris ; thoracis lateribus convexis, angulis
posticis productis acutis ; elytris subnitentibus subtiliter
punctato lineatis.

Black, very thickly and minutely punctured. Head
and thorax dull'. Thorax much broader than the head ;

328 APPENDIX.

sides convex; hind angles prominent, acute. Elytra
subfusiform, slightly shining, broader than the thorax,
and nearly thrice its length, with regular rows of
minute punctures. Length of the body, 1 1 lines.

This may be distinguished from the two preceding
species by the more minute punctures on the lines of
the elytra.

Genus ELEODES. (Eschscholtz.)
Eleodes subtuberculata. N. S.

Nigra, obscura ; capite thoraceque confertim punc-
tatis ; thorace lateribus subrectis, angulis anticis acutis ;
elytris ellipticis, tuberculato-lineatis.

Black, dull. Head and thorax thickly punctured.
Head with a transverse impressed line between the
base of the antennas ; clypeus somewhat shining. Thorax
somewhat broader than the head, harder, broader behind
than in front ; sides almost straight ; fore angles acute.
Elytra elliptical, with numerous lines of minute tu-
bercles, almost twice broader than the thorax, and
about thrice its length. Length of the body, 5^ lines.

Eleodes convexicollis. N. S.

Nigra ; capite thoraceque sub tilissime punctatis; capite
incisuris tribus anticis ; thoracis lateribus anticis valde
convexis ; elytris longiovatis, punctato-striatis.

Black, rather dull. Head slightly excavated on the
fore border and on each side in front of the base of the
antennaB. Head and thorax very minutely punctured.
Thorax very convex on each side before the middle.

APPENDIX. 329

Elytra elongate oval, with distinct punctured strias,
somewhat broader than the thorax, and more than thrice
its length. Length of the body, 14 lines.

Eleodes binotata. N. S.

Nigra, subnitens ; capite thoraceque subtilissime punc-
tatis; thorace binotata, lateribus antice, convexis, angulis
anticis productis acutis ; elytris punctato-striatis.

Black, slightly shining. Head and thorax extremely
minutely punctured. Thorax with a slight impression
on each side of the middle of the disk ; sides convex
before the middle ; fore angles prominent, acute.
Elytra subfusiform, with slight punctured strise, nearly
four times the length of the thorax. Length of the
body, 10 lines.

Eleodes conjuncta. N. S.

Nigra, sat obscura, H. convexicolli affinis ; thoracis
lateribus minus rotundatis, scutellos majori; elytris
angustioribus ; capite thoraceque subtilissime punctatis ;
thorace binotato.

Black, rather dull, like H. convexicollis in structure.
Head xnd thorax very minutely punctured. Thorax
with a shallow discal on each side hindward ; sides less
convex than those of H. convexicollis. Scutellum
larger. Elytra narrower ; their sides more linear.
Length of the body, 13 lines.

Eleodes latiuscula. N. S.

Nigra lata, sat obscura ; capite thoraceque confertim
et subtiliter punctatis; thoracis lateribus anticis convexis;

330 APrEXDIX.

elytris substriatis confertissime punctatis, lateribus
couvexis.

Black, broad, somewhat dull. Head and thorax
thickly and minutely punctured. Head with an indis-
tinct transverse impressed line in front of the eyes ;
clypeus somewhat shining. Thorax much broader than
the head ; sides convex in front. Elytra elliptical, very
thickly punctured, with slight strise, much broader than
the thorax, and nearly thrice its length ; sides convex.
Length of the body, 9 lines.

Fam. HELOPID.E. (Steph.)— Genus HELOPS. (Fabr.)
Helops inclusus. N. S.

Niger, nitens, subtilissime punctatus ; thoracis lateri-
bus convexis ; elytris subtilissime striatis.

Black, shining, very minutely punctured. Head with
a distinct transverse furrow in front of the eyes.
Thorax a little broader behind than in front, much
broader than the head ; sides convex. Elytra with
several very finely striated lines, a little broader than
the thorax, and more than twice its length. Length of
the body, 3^ lines.

Fam. CANTHAEiDyE. (Leach.) — Genus LTTTA. (Linn.)
Lytta immerita. N. S.

Nigra, cinereo-tomentosa, subtus cinereo-pubescens ;
elytris linea marginali tenui cana.

Black, with cinereous tomentum ; underside with
cinereous pubescence. Elytra with a slender hoary
border. Length of the body, 5 lines.

APPENDIX. 331

Genus NEMOGNATHA. (Illiger.)
Nemognatha bicolor. N. S.

Sublutea, subtilissime punctata; antennis, scutellos,
pectore, abdomine, pedibusque nigris.

Dull, luteous, shining; very finely punctured.
Mouth, antennae, scutellum, pectus, abdomen, and legs
black. Length of the body, 5^ lines.

Fam. ATTILABID.E. (Schonhorn.) — Genus KHTNCHITES.

(Herbst.)

Rhynchites congrua. N. S.

Nigricante cyanea, aspere punctata ; rostro thoracis
longitudine, thoracis lateribus convexis; elytris latis
lateribus subconvexis.

Blackish blue, roughly punctured. Kostrum as
long as the thorax, slightly dilated towards the tip.
Thorax narrower in front; sides convex. Elytra much
broader than the thorax, and about twice its length ;
sides slightly convex. Length of the body, 3 lines.

Fain. CERAMBYCID/E. (Kirby.) — Genus EUTRYPANUS.

(Dejean.)

Eutrypanus princeps. N. S.

Mas et Fcem. — Niger, punctatus, tomento cano et
cervino varius ; antennis canis nigro-annulatis ; thorace
fascia vittisque duabus canis, guttis duabus, anticis
pallide cervinis ; elytris fusco et cervino variis, fasciis

332 APPENDIX.

quatuor dentatis incisis canis. Mas. — Antennis corpore
quadruple longioribus. Foem. — Antennis corpore plus
duplo longioribus, oviductu.

Male and Female. — Black, roughly punctured ; varied
with hoary and with fawn-coloured tomentum. An-
tennae hoary, with black rings. Thorax with the hoary
hue forming a stripe on each side, and a slender curved
band, in front of which there are two pale fawn coloured
dots. Elytra with four irregular dentate and notched
hoary bands ; intermediate spaces partly brown or fawn
colour. Length of the body, 10 lines. Male. — Antennae
four times the length of the body. Female. — Antennae
more than twice the length of the body exclusive of
the ovipositor. Ovipositor much more than half the
length of the body.

Fain. LEPTUEID^;. (Stephens.) — Genus TYPOCERUS.

(Leconte.)

Typocerus cervinus. N. S.

Cervinus; capite thoraceque subtilissime punctatis;
antennis corporis dimidio longioribus ; thorace biden-
tato ; elytris pallidioribus diffuse punctatis.

Female. — Fawn colour. Head, thorax, antennas and
femora darker than the elytra. Head and thorax very
minutely punctured. Antennas more than half the
length of the body. Thorax with one longitudinal and
two transverse impressions, armed on each side with a
short stout obtuse tooth. Elytra rather largely punc-
tured. Length of the body, 12 lines.

APPENDIX. 333

Genus TOXOTUS. (Serville.)
Toxotus perductor. N. S.

Niger ; capite guttis duabus fulvis ; elytris fulvis
nigro trifasciatis fascia; la guttulari ; 2a interrupts ;
3a lata ; fasciis duabus ventralibus fulvis ; pedibus
fulvis ; genubus tarsisque nigris ; femoribus tibiisque
posticis apice nigris.

Black, rather dull. Head tawny beneath, and with
a tawny dot on each side at the base of the antennas.
Pectus with a broad triangular tawny stripe on each
side. Elytra tawny, with three black bands ; first band
very incomplete, consisting of four elongated dots ;
second band interrupted near the suture ; third broader
than the second, extending nearly to the tip, which is
reddish tawny. Abdomen extending a little beyond the
elytra ; first and second segments beneath with tawny
bands, which extend along the hind borders of the seg-
ments, and are dilated in the middle. Legs tawny ;
knees and tarsi black ; hind femora and hind tibiae with
black tips. Length of the body, 8 lines.

Fam. CLYTHEID,E, (Kirby.) — Genus CLTTHRA.
(Laichart.)

Clythra bisignata. N. S.

Obscure cyanea, nitens ; an tennis serratis ; elytris
punctato lineatis, macula basali rufescente.

•

Dark blue, shining. Head and thorax smooth. An-
teimce serrated, not longer than the breadth of the head.

334 APPENDIX.

Elytra with lines of minute punctures ; a reddish spot
on each side at the base by the outer border, which is
dilated near the base. Length of the body, 3 lines.

ORDER. NEUROPTERA.

Fam. SIALID^:. (Leach.) — Genus CHAULIODES. (Latr.)
Ckaidiodes disjunctus. N. S.

Fuscus, cinereo-pilosus ; capite rufescente punctate,
postice sulcato, plagis convexis nigris ; mandibulis apice
nigris ; pedibus luridis ; alis cinereis e maculis plurimis
fuscis sublineatis; alis anticis plagis quinque, costali-
bus macularibus fuscis rnaculisque duabus basalibus
nigris.

Brown, with cinereous hairs. Head dark reddish,
thickly punctured ; hind part with longitudinal furrows,
which intersect some elongated convex black shining
spaces. Mandibles with black tips. Prothorax elon-
gated, broader than long, much narrower than the
mesothorax. Legs lurid. Wings cinereous, with nume-
rous brown spots and dots, which form incomplete
transverse lines. Fore wings with some of the spots
collected into five costal patches ; two large black basal
spots. Length of the body, 18 lines; of the wings, 48
lines.

This species is mostly allied to C. californicus, but
may be distinguished by its larger size and by the
difference in the markings.

APPENDIX.

335

LIST OF LEPIDOPTEEA.

Fain, PAPILIONID^E.

Gen. PAPILIO.
Papilio.

Turnus. (Linn.)

rutulus. (Boisd.)

Zelicaon. (Boisd.)
Parnassius.

clarius. (Eversm.)
Pieris.

Protodice.

Menapia. (Felder.)
Colias.

Chrysotliome.

Philodice. .
Danais.

Archippus.
Melitoea.

Pharos. (Boisd.)

Anicia. (Doubl.)
Argynnis.

Aphrodite.

Callippe. (Boisd.)

Argynnis.

Freya. (Var.)
Vanessa.

Antiopa. (Linn.)

Cardui. (Linn.)

Polychloros. (Linn.)

C. album. (Linn.)
Limenitis.

Lorquinii. (Boisd.)
Erebia.

Medusa.
Ccsnonympha.

Dams. (Fabr.)
Lyccsna.

Pheres. (Boisd.)

Tribe BOMBYCITES.

Fam. AKCTIIDJE. (Leach.)

Gen. HAI/ESIDOTA. (Hubn.)

Halcsidota.

*angulifera. (Walk.)
*roseata. (AValk.)

ORDER. LEPIDOPTERA.

Fam. ARCTIID^;. (Leach.) — Genus HALESIDOTA.

(Hubner.)

Halesidota angulifera. N. S.

Mas. — Pallide lutea; alls anticis fasciis quinque fusces-
centibus obliquis angulosis; 1% indeterminata; 2a et
3% qui connexis; 3a et 4ta, qui postice conjunctis;
5% submarginali, lituris non nullis marginalibus fus-
cescentibus alls posticis albido-cinereis, venis pallide
flavescentibus.

Male. — Pale luteous, paler beneath. Proboscis long.

336 APPENDIX.

Palpi porrect, pilose, rather slender, not extending be-
yond the front ; third joint extremely short. Antennae
moderately pectinated. Abdomen extending much
beyond the hind wings. Hind tibiae with four rather
short spurs. Fore wings with five oblique, irregular, zig-
zag, brownish bands — first band basal, very incomplete ;
second connected with the third in the middle ; third
and fourth united hindward ; fifth submarginal ; a few
slight brownish marginal marks. Hind wings whitish
cinereous ; veins pale yellowish. Length of the body,
10 lines ; of the wings, 24 lines.
Closely allied to H. fulvo-flava.

Halesidota? roseata. N. S.

Foem. — Eoseosrufa ; subtus flavo-pilosa ; capitis fascia
thoracisque strigis sex pallide flavis ; abdomine roseo
basi lanuginoso flavescente ; alis anticis strigis basalibus
pallide flavescentibus, fasciisque tribus exterioribus alb-
idis macularibus perobliquis; alis posticis albido-cinereis
subhyalinis.

Female. — Eosy red. Body densely clothed and partly
pale yellow beneath. Head with a pale yellow band on
the front. Palpi extremely short. Thorax with six
longitudinal pale yellow streaks. Abdomen rosy, lanu-
ginous, and partly pale yellow towards the base, extend-
ing much beyond the hind wings. Fore wings with
some pale yellowish streaks towards the base, and with
three exterior whitish niacular very oblique bands;
spots mostly cuneiform ; costa straight ; tips slightly
acute ; exterior border slightly convex, extremely
oblique ; first and second inferior veins contiguous at
the base; third very near the second; fourth remote

APPENDIX. 337

from the third. Hind wings whitish cinereous, slightly
hyaline; veins and fringe slightly yellowish. Length
of the body, 7 lines ; of the wings, 20 lines.

This species may form a new genus. It differs some-
what from Halesidota in the structure of the veins of
the fore wings.

LIST OF DIPTEEA.

CULICID^E. (Steph.)

CULEX. (Linn.)

Culex.

#pinguis. (Walk.)

ASILID.E. (Leach.)
LAPHRITES. (Walk.)

LAPHRIA. (Fabr.)

Laphria.

"Columbia. (Walk.)

(ESTRIDJE. (Leach.)

CUTEREBBA. (Clark.)

Cuterebra.

*approximata. (Walk.)

MUSCIDJE. (Leach.)
TACHIXIDES. (Walk.)

ETJRIGASTER. (MaCq.)

Eurigaster.

*septentrionalis. (Walk.)

Order DIPTEEA.

Fam. CDLICID.E. (Steph.) — Genus CULEX. (Linn.)
Culex pinguis. N. S.

fo&m. — Cervinus, robustus ; rostro apicern versus nigro ;
abdominis pube subaurata ; pedibus robustis pallidiori-
bus ; alis cinereis, venis fulvis subpilosis.

Female. — Fawn-colour, stout. Proboscis much longer
than the head, and the thorax black towards the tip.
Abdomen with slightly gilded down. Legs stout, paler
than the body ; tarsi darker. Wings cinereous ; veins
tawny, slightly pilose ; radial and subapical veins, with
long forks. Length of the body, 3£ lines ; of the wings,
7 lines.

VOL. II. Z

338 APPENDIX.

Fam. ASILIDJ;. (Leach.) — Sub-Fam. LAPHRITES.
(Wlk.) — Genus LAPHEIA. (Fabr.)

Laphria columbica. N. S.

Mas. — Subseneo-nigro ; capite pilis subauratis densis-
sime vestito ; mystace e setis nigris ; thorace nigro-piloso,
fascia subaurato-pilosa ; abdornine apicem versus subau-
rato piloso ; femoribus posticis in-crassatis nigro-pilosis ;
tibiis posticis lividis apice nigris ; alis nigricantibus areo-
larum discis cinereis.

Laphria Male. — Black, with a very slight aeneous
tinge. Head very thickly clothed with slightly gilded
hairs ; vertex and hind side with black hairs ; mystax
composed of black bristles. Thorax clothed with short
black hairs ; fore part with fawn-coloured pubescence ;
a band of slightly gilded hairs across the hind part of
the scutum. Abdomen clothed towards the tip with
slightly gilded hairs. Legs mostly clothed with slightly
gilded hairs ; hind femora incrassated with black hairs ;
hind tibia3 livid, and with slightly gilded hairs, except
towards the tips. Wings blackish ; discs of most of the
areolets cinereous ; veins and halteres black. Length
of the body, 9 lines; of the wings, 16 lines.

This species has most resemblance to L. posticata,
from which it may be distinguished by the pale hairs
on the hind tibiae.

Fam. CESTRID.E. (Leach.) — Genus CUTEEEBEA. (Clark.)
Cuterebra approximata. N. S.

Nigra ; capite punctate ; vertice linea glabra sulcata;
thoracis tomento-cinereo ; abdomirie nigro-cyaneo ; alis
nigricantibus.

Black. Head minutely punctured above, slightly

APPENDIX. 339

rugulose towards the mouth ; vertex with a slender,
smooth, furrowed line. Thorax slightly covered with
dark cinereous tomentum. Abdomen dark blue. Wings
and alulae blackish ; veins black. Length of the body,
10 lines ; of the wings, 18 lines.

Fam. MUSCID^E. (Latr.) — Sub-Fam. TACHINIDES. (Wlk.)

Genus EURIGASTER. (Macq.)
Eurigaster septentrionalis. N. S.

Fcem. — Nigra, setosa, latiuscula ; capite argenteo-
cinereo ; vertice aurato ; frontalibus atris ; palpis rufes-
centibus ; antennis aristae dimidio incrassato ; thorace
vittis quinque cinereis ; scutelli apice piceo ; abdomine
cinereo subtessellato ; alis cinereis.

Female. — Black, setose, rather broad. Head silvery
cinereous, gilded above ; frontalia deep black, widening
in front ; facialia bordered with bristles along most of
the length from the epistdma. Palpi reddish. Antennae
extending to the epistoma ; third joint linear, rounded
at the tip, full six times the length of the second ;
arista incrassated for half the length from the base.
Thorax with five cinereous stripes ; scutellum piceous
at the tip. Abdomen • slightly tesselated with cinereous,
very bristly towards the tip, a little longer than the
thorax. Wings cinereous ; veins black ; prsebrachial
vein forming an obtuse angle at its flexure, straight
from thence to its tip.

Order HEMIPTERA.— Sub-Order HOMOPTEKA.
Fam. CICADID.E. (Weitm.) — Genus CICADA. (Linn.)

Cicada occidentalis. N. S.
Fcem. -- Nigra, subtus albido-tomentosa ; facie et

Z 2

340 APPENDIX.

prothorace testaceo marginatis ; mesothorace lituris
duabus cuneatis, lateribus margineque postice testaceis ;
segment orum abdominalium marginibus posticis subtus
luteis ; femoribus tibiisque testaceo vittatis ; alls vitreis
basi la?te rufis.

Female. — Bla.ck ; underside with shining whitish to-
mentum. Head much narrower than the prothorax ;
transverse furrow in front testaceous ; face transversely
ridged on each side, with a testaceous border. Pro-
thorax with four oblique furrows, which converge hind-
ward ; border testaceous ; sides with slightly gilded
pubescence, dilated and rounded hindward. Meso-
thorax with two V shaped testaceous marks, which ex-
tend from the fore border to the disk, and are indistinct
except at the tips ; sides and hind border testaceous.
Abdomen thinly clothed with shining whitish pubes-
cence ; hind borders of the segments luteous on each
side and beneath; dorsal opercula testaceous; sheaths
of the ovipositor greenish. Femora and tibia? with
testaceous stripes ; fore femora incrassated, with two
teeth on the underside. Wings vitreous, bright red at
the base ; veins black, greenish towards the base. Fore
wings with a greenish costa ; first and second transverse
veins slanting outward; first parted by more than twice
its length from the second; third and fourth slightly
slanting inward. Length of the body, 12 lines ; of the
wings, 32 lines.

This species is smaller than G. septemdecim, to which
it has much general resemblance.

APPENDIX. 341

LIST OF HYMENOPTEEA.

FOBMICIDJE.

Formica.

herciilanea. (L.)
Integra. (Nyl.)
umbrata. (Nyl.)

nigra. (Linn.)
Isevigatas. (Nyl.)

MUTILLID^!.

Mut ilia.

occidentalis. (L.)

Fam. POMPILHLE. (Leach.) — Genus POMPILTJS. (Fabr.)
Pompilus comparatus. N. S.

Foem. — Niger, subnitens, subtilissime punctatus ;
metathoracis linea impressa indistincta; abdomine rufo-
glabro nitente, basi nigro, apicem versus nigricante :
tibiis posticis tuberculatis ; alls nigricantibus.

Female. — Black. Head and thorax thinly clothed
with short black hairs, extremely minutely punctured,
slightly shining. Metathorax well developed, with an
indistinct impressed middle line. Abdomen red, smooth,
shining, black at the base, blackish at the tip, a little
longer than the thorax. Hind tibise tuberculate. Wings
blackish. Length of the body, 7 lines ; of the wings,
10 lines.

Pompilus pyrrhomelas. N. S.

Fcem. — Niger, subnitens, subtilissime punctatus ; an-
tennis robustis articulo 1° incrassato ; metathorace trans-
verse subruguloso linea impressa indistincta ; segment-
orum abdominalium marginibus posticis subglabris;
tibiis posticis subtuberculatis ; alis ochraceis, basi nigri-
cantibus, apice fuscescentibus.

Female. - - Black, extremely minutely punctured,
clothed with black hairs, slightly shining. Antennae

34-2 APPENDIX.

stout, shorter than the thorax ; first joint incrassated.
Metathorax transversely and minutely rugulose, with an
indistinct middle impressed line. Abdomen fusiform, a
little longer than the thorax ; hind borders of the seg-
ments almost smooth. Hind tibiae slightly tuberculate.
Wings ochraceous, blackish at the base, brownish at the
tips. Length of the body, 11 lines; of the wings, 16
lines.

LIST OF SPHEGID^E.

Apathus.

insularis. (Sm.)
Bombus.

vinatus.

vagans.
*flavifrons. (Smith.)

californicus.

(Kirby.)
luctuosa. (St. Farg.)
Pelopceus. (Latr.)

architeetus.

APIDJE.

Aiulrena.
vicina.
viclima.

perplexa.
nivalis.

Os mi a.

simillima.

TENTHKEDINID^3.

Sirex.

*varipes. (Walk.)
albicornis. (Fabr. )

Chrysis.

*smaragdicolor. (Walk.)

Order HYMENOPTEEA.

Fam. UKOCERID.E. (Leach.) — Genus SIREX. (Linn.)

Sirex varipes.

Fcem. — Nigricante cyaneus ; antennis nigris; abdomine
purpurascente cyaneo, apice irnpresso ; oviductus vaginis
abdominis dimidio brevioribus ; pedibus rufis ; tibiis
supra nigris ; alis cinereis.

Female. — Blackish blue, clothed with black hairs.
Antennae black. Abdomen purplish blue, with a nearly
circular excavation at its tip. Sheaths of the ovipositor

APPENDIX. 343

black, less than half the length of the abdomen. Legs
red ; conse black ; tibise black above. Wings cinereous ;
veins black. Length of the body, 10 lines; of the
wings, 18 lines.

Fam. APID/E. — Genus BOMBUS.
Bombus flavifrons. N. S.

Hirsutus, ater; capite, thorace, abdomenisque fascia
tefluis flavis ; alis nigricantibus ; ano nigro.

Female. — Length, 8^- lines. Clothed with black
pubescence. The face and vertex have a pale yellow
pubescence ; that on the underside of the head is black.
The anterior portion of the thorax before the insertion
of the wings covered with pale yellow pubescence ; also
a narrow band of the same colour on the fourth segment
of the abdomen ; the wings blackish brown.

This species closely resembles Bombus californicus ;
from that species it differs in having darker wings, in
the face and vertex being clothed with pale yellow
pubescence, and in having a much narrower band on
the abdomen.

Fam. CHRYSIDID.E. (Leach.) — Genus CHRYSIS. (Linn.)
Chi^ysis smaragdicolor. N. S.

Smaragdina, aspere punctata ; antennis viridibus, apices
versus nigris ; abdominis segmenti 2l margine postico
subglabro, 31 margine postico subruguloso, 4° brevis-
simonondentato; tarsis nigris; alis nigricantibus, postice
cinereis.

344 APPENDIX.

Emerald green, thickly and somewhat coarsely punc-
tured. Antennas black, bright green towards the base.
Abdomen more finely punctured than the thorax ;
second segment more finely punctured than the first,
almost smooth and with purplish blue reflections along
its hind border ; hind border of the third segment
slightly rugulose ; fourth segment very short, not
dentate. Tarsi black. Win^s blackish, cinereous hind-

o *

ward; veins black. Length of the body, 7 lines; of the
wings, 9 lines.

ARACHNIDS.

Nepliila plumipes. (Koch.)

List, with descriptions of New Species of Annelides
from Vancouver Island.

I have described the parasite in the keyhole limpet,
Lepidonotus lordi, nov. sp., and where I found it, in
Vol. II.

Lepidonotus insignis. (Baird.) N. S.

This is a very fine species of the genus Lepidonotus.
It is rather more than three inches long, and is nearly half
an inch in breadth exclusive of the seta3 of the feet.
On the upper surface the body is of a whitish colour,
marbled with black. The sides, which are covered by the
elytra, are white, and a broad line runs down the centre
of the dorsum, throughout its whole length. The feet
are encircled with fine black circular lines. The elytra,
eighteen pairs in number, are oval, white, with black
dots on the outer sides and centre, and they are marked

APPENDIX. 843

with a black semicircular patch on the inner edge.
They do not overlap each other except near the head.
On the body of the animal they are wide apart, leaving
the centre of the back exposed. The proboscis is large
and wrinkled, and the jaws are of a reddish-brown
colour. The antennae are five in number, the central
one being nearly three times as long as the external
pair, and of a pure white colour ; the internal and ex-
ternal pairs white, tinged with black. The feet are very
prominent, strong, rounded, conical, and armed with
seven or eight stout brown bristles. The second branch
is extremely small, and sends off two or three very small
white setae. The superior cirrus is tolerably long and
sharp-pointed ; it is pedunculated, the peduncle being
stout, conical, and of a deep black colour. The inferior
cirrus is short, conical, and sharp-pointed. The last
segment of the body is terminated by two tolerably
stout but not long cirri.' — Hob. Esquimalt Harbour,
Vancouver Island. (Brit. Mus. Col.)

Lepidonotus Lordi. (Baird.) N. S.

This species is about three inches long, and rather
more than one-third of an inch in diameter at the
broadest part of the body. It tapers gradually from
the head to the tail, which is only about one-eighth of
an inch broad. The colour is of a light brown, a broad
line of a much darker brown running along the whole
leno-th of the centre of the back. On the surface a

O

groove rung down the centre of the body throughout its
entire length. The elytra are 35 pairs in number, thin,
membranous, and of a light brown colour. The two first
overlap each other slightly in the middle ; but for the

346 APPENDIX.

rest of its length the centre of the back is uncovered.
The antennae are five in number ; the central one short,
of much the same length as the internal ones ; the two
external ones the longest, white, with a bright black
ring round the upper part, but leaving the point white,
which is acute at the apex. The feet are tolerably
stout, and the two divisions are both furnished with
sharp but curved pointed bristles. The superior cirri
are white, and of a moderate length ; the inferior ones
being short. - - Hob. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver
Island. (Brit. Mus. Col.}

Lepidonotus Gh^ubei. (Baird.) N. S.

This species is about 2 inches long and ^ an inch
broad. The body underneath is of a uniform brown
colour; above it is whitish, mottled with black. The
elytra are 18 pairs in number, nearly round, rough with
small tubercles, edged by a slightly raised margin, and
mottled with black and white. They do not meet each
other in the centre, but leave a portion of the back
uncovered. The superior cirri are rather long, blunt
pointed, pedunculated, marked with a black spot at the
base, where they issue from the peduncle, and are
ringed with black a little distance from the extremity.
The inferior cirri are short and acute pointed. The
feet are broad, and the bristles of both branches are
stout, of a bright brown colour, and toothed on one
edge near the extremity. The antennas are five in
number, and are all short, and nearly of equal length.
—Hab. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island. (Brit.
Mus. Col.)

APPENDIX. 347

Lepidonotus frag ills. (Baird.) N. S.

This species, owing to its brittle character, is in too
bad a state to describe accurately. It is about 2^ or 3
inches long, and is rather narrow. The scales or elytra
appear to be very thin and membranous ; but as they
are deciduous it is difficult to ascertain the number,
especially as the worm is broken into several pieces.
The superior cirri are stout and club-shaped at the tip.
There appear to be no ventral cirri on the feet, and the
superior cirri become nearly obsolete on the lower half
of the body.

It was found by Mr. Lord, adhering to a star-fish ;
' but,' he says, ' it is next to impossible to obtain one
perfect, as they break themselves to pieces on the
slightest touch, or however carefully killed.' In this
respect it resembles a species of Annelide belonging to
the group of vermiform Aphrodisians, described by
Eisso, as occurring in the Mediterranean under the
name of Eamolpe fragilis. — Hob. Esquimalt Harbour,
Vancouver Island. (Brit. Mus. Col.}

Nereis foliata. (Baird.) N. S.

This Nereid is of a dark grey colour above, and of a
lighter hue underneath, somewhat iridescent It is 15

O 7

inches in length, and at the broadest part is about
•| an inch in breadth. It tapers gradually towards the
tail, which terminates in two short, blunt, caudal
styles. The first or occipital segment of the body is
about twice the length of the second. The tentacular
cirri are unequal, and vary in length ; in the largest
and best developed specimen the longest are only about

348 APPENDIX.

as long as the first two segments ; while in another spe-
cimen nearly of the same size they are nearly equal in
length to the first four segments, and iu one or two
small specimens not a third the length of the two just
named. These cirri are equal in length to at least
eleven of the first segments of the body. The shorter
ones are only about half the length of the first segment
of the body. The feet are well developed, the supe-
rior branchial appendages are large and in the form of a
leaf, giving the animal at first sight the appearance of a
species of Phyllodon. The antennas are shorter than the
palpi, which are strong and conical in shape. — Hob.
Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island. (Brit. MILS. Col.}
This species approaches very nearly to Nereis virens
from Newfoundland (vide Middendorf, Sibirische Eeise
Anulos 6, tab. i., figs. 2-6).

Nereis bicanaliculata. (Baird.) N. S.

This is rather a small species, about 2 inches long,
and 1\ lines in breadth. It is of a dull white colour,
and is remarkable for having a channel running down
both the dorsal and ventral sides. The channel on the
dorsal surface is rather deep, commencing from the
eleventh ring, and continues to the tail ; the channel
itself is quite smooth, the divisions or rings of the body
not showing on its surface. On the ventral surface the
channel shows marks of the divisions or rings into
which the body is divided. The head is small, the
antennae about equal in length to the palpi, and the
tentacular cirri are equal to about five or six rings of
the body. The upper portion of the body is rounded,

APPENDIX. 349

and not channelled ; and the tail terminates in a round
blunt knob without caudal filaments. The feet are
rather small, but are rendered unusually distinct from
the peculiar manner in which the rings or divisions of
the body are interrupted by the channel running along
the centre of the body. It tapers very gradually, and
almost imperceptibly for some time, from the head to
the tail. — Hob. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island.
(Brit. Mus. Col.)

Glycera corrugata. (Baird.) N. S.

This annelide is about 4 inches in length, exclusive
of the proboscis, which, where exserted, is -Jths of an
inch long, and is about 3 lines in breadth ; the proboscis
is 4 lines at its greatest diameter. The .head is rather
short and conical, and strongly ringed. The antennae
are somewhat broad. The feet are broad, composed of
two lobes, and are destitute of branchial filaments. The
bristles are jointed, and the seta3 straight and sharp.
The segments of the body are very numerous, composed
of a double ring, the one on which the feet are set being
the narrower of the two, and raised ; while the whole
surface of the body, especially on the upper side, is
densely, though not very strongly, corrugated throughout
its whole length. The proboscis is densely scabrous,
and covered with very short dark-coloured bristles.
The body tapers to a narrow point posteriorly, and
terminates in a loosely-connected short lobe, armed at
the extremity with a slightly-curved, horny, sharp-
pointed claw. — Hab. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver
Island. (Brit. Mus. Col.}

350 APPENDIX.

Sabellaria saxicava. (Baird.) N. S.

This worm lives in the rock. The tube in which it
lodges is solitary, and is evidently hollowed out of the
solid (though not a very hard) rock by itself, and
appears to be quite round. The thoracic portion of the
body is round, the abdominal flattened, with an im-
pressed line running down through its whole length.
The head is surmounted by an opercular disc, composed
of two rows of stout dissimilar bristles (palece). The
inner row consists of about ten stout cylindrical sharp-
pointed bristles of a dark-horn colour, gradually in-
creasing in size from the dorsal margin towards the
ventral. The outer row consists of about eighteen
bristles, not so stout, flattened, and finely denticulated
on both sides for about half the length. The post-
occipital segment of the body is long, of a dark colour,
somewhat wrinkled, and marked with three or four
fleshy tubercles on each side. The thoracic feet are
three pairs, and are broad but short. As only one
specimen was found, it was thought unadvisable to
dissect the whole worm out, in consequence of which
the extremity has not been seen. I am unable to say
whether it terminates in a caudal appendage or not.

The length of the exposed portion of the worm is 1£
inch, the breadth about 2 lines ; probably the part en-
closed in the tube may be of about equal length. — Hab.
Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island. (Brit. Mus.
Col.)

APPENDIX. 351

List of Fishes collected in the Salt and Fresh Waters
of Vancouver Island and British Columbia.

J

SALMONID.E.

Sal mo.

c

purpuratus. (Pallas.)
spectabilis. (Grd.)

Fario.

stellatus. (Girard.)

Fario Lordii. (Nov. Sp.)
(Giinther: Fishes, Vol. VI. p. 148.)

Scales minute. Head and body rather compressed ;
the height of the head equals the length of the head,
and is two-ninths of the total (without caudal); the
length of the head is one-half of the distance between

O

the snout and the vertical from the origin of the
dorsal fin. Snout very obtuse, scarcely longer than the
diameter of the eye, which is three-fourths of the width
of the interorbital space. The lower jaw is a little shorter
than the upper ; maxillary of moderate width, scarcely
reaching to the vertical from the margin of the orbit.
Teeth of moderate strength ; those along the medium
line of the hyoid are very small. Praoperculum with
a very distinct lower limb. Fins rather small ; the
length of the pectoral is less than that of the head
(without snout), or one-half of the distance of its root
from the ventrals ; caudal fin slightly emarginate. Back
and sides reddish olive ; sides with numerous round
light-coloured spots. Belly whitish, powdered with
reddish olive ; paired fins and anal colourless ; caudal
immaculate. Pyloric appendages very long and wide.

3,52

APPENDIX.

4 This is one of the smallest species of charr, both our
specimens having the abdomen filled with mature ova.'

This very interesting little charr's habits would have
been described, when speaking of the Salmonidas in
Vol. I., had it been named as a new species in time.
The specimens in the British Museum collection I
caught with an artificial fly in a small stream that flows
down the west slope of the Cascades, near the Skaget
flat, to join the Fraser at Fort Hope.

Salmo.

paucidens. (Richardson.)
quinuat (Richardson) (or

Semeetlek).
Scouleri.

paucidens (or slzoin).
Gairdneri (or cha-cha-lool).
lycaodon (or Keasoo, Ekewan,

and Kutch-kutch).
TJialeicthys.

pacifieus. (Grd.)
Coregomts.

quadrilateralis.
Gasterosteus.
serratus.
Pugetti.
concinnus.
spinachia.
Chirus.

hexagramrmis.
decagrammus.
constellatus.
Sebastes.

paucispinis.
melanops.
Agonus.

acipenserinus.
Coitus.

polyacanthocephalus.
bubalis.

Cen tridermicthys.

maculosus.

parvus.

gulosus.

armatus.

globiceps.
Platichthys.

rugosus.
Plcuronectes.

stellatus.

umbrosus.

bilineates.

hippoglossus ?

digrammus (Giinther : nov.
sp., Brit. Mus. Cat. Fishes).
Vide Vcl. I. Flat-fishes.
Pleuronicthys.

guttulatus. (Grd.)
Malletta.

coerulea.
Engraulis.

mordax. (Grd.)
Syngnathus.

arundinaceus. (Grd.)
Acipenser.

transmontamus. Vide Vol. I.

Sturgeon fishing.
Chimatra.

Colleii.
Acanthus.
Suckleyi.

APPENDIX. 3o3

Fam. EMBIOTOCID.E.*

(Gunther: Fishes, Vol. IV. p. 245.)

Body compressed, elevated, or oblong, covered with
cycloid scales. Lateral lines continuous. One dorsal
fin, with a developed spinous process, and with a scaly
sheath along the base, which is separated by a groove
from the other scales ; anal with three spines and nume-
rous rays. Ventral and thoracic fins with one spine and
five soft rays. Tusk in the jaws small ; palate smooth.
The lower pharyngeal bone triangular. Branchiostegals,
five or six. Grills, four pseudo-branchiae, well developed ;
air-bladder large, simple. Stomach without csecal
appendage; pyloric appendage, none. Viviparous.
Vertebrae 17 — 20. (Ditrema aggregatum.}

Synopsis of Genera.

Dorsal spines . . 7 — 11 . . 1. DITREMA.
Dorsal spines . . 16—18 . . 2. HYSTEROCABPUS.

DITREMA.

Body compressed, elevated, covered with cycloid
scales of moderate or rather small size ; mouth rather
small ; teeth conical, in a single series. One dorsal fin,
the spinous portion of which is less developed than the
soft, and composed of seven to eleven spines ; anal with
three spines and numerous closely-set rays. Gills, four,
with a cleft behind; pseudo-bran chia3 well developed.

Ditrema.

Jacksoni.

laterals.

Temminckii.

vacca.

toxotes.

Ditrema.
Caryi.

aggregatum.
furcatum.

brevipinnes (Gunther : nov.
sp. Fishes, Vol. IV.).

* Vide Viviparous Fishes, Vol. I.
VOL. II. A A

354 APPENDIX.

Ditrema brevipinnes. (Sp. ch.)

The three posterior dorsal spines are the longest ; a
little shorter than the anterior rays. Scales on the
cheeks in two series. The length of the body is one-
third of the total length (without caudal). Jaws equal
in length anteriorly ; lips thin, the fold of the lower
being interrupted in the middle. The maxillary does not
quite extend to the anterior margin of the eye. Length,
7£ inches. Head somewhat longer than high, its length
being nearly one-fourth of the total (without caudal).
The upper profile is somewhat concave above the eye.
The diameter of the orbit equals the extent of the
snout, and is two-sevenths of the length of the head :
cleft of the mouth oblique ; tusk rather small, in a
single series. The scaly part of the cheek is narrower
than the orbit. The dorsal commences vertically above
the root of the ventral ; the first spine is very short,
the three following increase in length ; the three last,
being longest, of nearly equal length, half as long as
the head ; the anterior rays a little longer than the last
spine. The anal fin commences below the seventh
dorsal ray, and extends further backwards than the
dorsal fin, its spines being very distinct; caudal emargin-
ate. Back, dark greenish olive; belly, silvery.

I obtained this little species in Esquimalt Harbour,
but it has the same range and general distribution as
the others. Vide Vol. I.

Ditrema.

minimum,
arcuatum.
megalops.

Ditrema.

Agassizii.

anale.

rhodoterum.

APPENDIX. 355

Gen. HYSTEKOCAKPFS.

Body compressed ; oblong ; covered with scales of
moderate size. Mouth rather small ; teeth conical, in a
single series. One dorsal fin with from sixteen to
eighteen spines ; anal, with three spines and numerous
rays. Intestinal tract short, with two circumvolutions.

Hysterocarpus.
Traskii.

Cyclopterus orbis. (Nov. Sp. : Griinther.)*
(D. 7-19. A. 9.)

The head and body form one orbicular mass, ter-
minating posteriorly in the narrow, short tail. The
plates with which the skin is covered are very rough,
tubercular, and conical ly elevated in the centre. A
series of large plates runs along the upper orbital edge
to the side of the back ; two series of smaller ones run
along the middle of the interorbital space, and along
the base of the dorsal fins. Other large plates occupy
the middle of the sides and the lateral part of the belly ;
the plates on the side of the head, before the pectoral.
are only half as large as those described, and those
on the tail are smaller. The mouth is transverse, not
extending on to the side of the head, and one-half the
greatest width of the interorbital space. The ventral
disk is shorter than the head, subcircular, entire, and
surrounded by fifteen flat papillae. The caudal fin is of
moderate length, rounded, and composed of nine simple
rays. Vent nearer to the ventral disk than to the anal
fin.

* British Museum Catalogue of Fishes.

A A. 2

356 APPENDIX.

Found attached to the bones of a large whale that
was washed into Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island.

ECHINEIS. (Species not made out.)

I found a number of these curious sucking fish (with
the sucking disk on the top of their heads) attached
to the turtle we caught with a hook and line. Vide
Vol. I., ' The Voyage.'

G-ADFS. (Species not determined.)

List of Shells taken on the eastern side of Vancouver
Island, dredged in ten fathoms water, and collected
from rocks between tide marks.

MUKICID.E.

Fusus orphens. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 8 to 10 fathoms.
— sitkensis. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks.
Columbella gausapata. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 10 fathoms.
Nassa mendica. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 8 fathoms.

Chrysodomus tabulatus. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa fusiformi, aspera, confertim lirata, liris in-
sequalibus, minute sqtiamatis ; anfractibus sex seu
septem, superne concavoangulatis seu canaliculatis,
ultimo magno, trientes duos longitudinis testaB ade-
quante, et antrorsum in canalem flexuosum desinente,
saturis distinctis ; labro interne super columellam iu-
flecto, umbilicum tegente.

Only one specimen of this species was collected, and
it had for some time been the abode of a hermit-crab.

APPENDIX. 357

It is of a perfectly fusiform shape, and the upper parts
of the whirls next to the suture are flattened and hol-
lowed out into broad channels. The surface is encircled
with numerous, close-set, raised striae, which are of
unequal size, every fourth one being larger than any of
the intermediate ones, and all roughened by numerous
small scales. The whirls are six or seven in number
(the upper ones being unfortunately broken otf), and
rapidly increase in size, the last being two-thirds the
length of the whole shell. The columella is covered
with a turned-over plate of the inner lip, the umbilicus
being partially concealed by it. The lower canal is of
considerable length, and is bent to one side. The
mouth appears to be rather small in proportion to the
size of the shell. When taken, it was inhabited by a
species of Pagurus, and, as is customary with shells
similarly inhabited, was considerably injured by its
parasitic tenant. Long. 3 inches; lat. 1^ inch. — Hob.
Esquimalt Harbour. (Brit. Mus.}

BUCCINHLE.

Murex lactuca. (Esch.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks;

very abundant.

Vitularia aspera. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Vit. — Testa fusiformi, purpurea, scabra, elongata,
longitudinaliter plicato-costata, transversim lirata, liris
crebris et minutissime squamatis ; anfractibus sex,
ultimo trientes duos longitudinis testae adequante, iu
canalem rectum, longiusculum, apertum, desinente ;
columella planulata, fauce albida ; labro externo intus

358 APPENDIX.

dentato, extus serrato ; operculo oblongo, nucleo in
margine externo sito.

This shell partakes much of the character of a species
of Murex ; but the oblong operculum, with its nucleus
situated on the external edge towards the middle, places
it among the Buccinidce. It is of a purple colour ; and
the surface of the shell is rough, with numerous small
scales on the raised stria? which encircle it. The longi-
tudinal plaits or varices are about ten in number, and
are least distinct on the last whirl. The mouth is ovate,
and the canal of moderate length and straight. Long.
1 inch; lat. ^ inch. — Hab. Esquimalt Harbour. (B-rH.
Mus.}

PYRAMIDELLID^:.

Murex foliatus. (Lamk.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks.
Purpura emarginata. (Reeve.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks.

Chemnitzia vancouverensis. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa elongato-turrita, cylindrica, longitudinaliter
oblique forte costata ; anfractibus novem, ultimo
superne indistincte costato, infra Isevigato ; apertura
parva, rotundato-ovato; suturis impressis.

This shell is peculiarly ribbed. The eight upper
whirls are strongly and somewhat obliquely ribbed ; but
on the last, whicli is the largest, the ribs are indistinct
on the upper half, and on the lower half disappear
altogether. The interstices between the ribs, which in
the penultimate whirl are about sixteen in number,
appear smooth. The sutures are deep and well marked.
The mouth is rather small, and is somewhat rounded-

APPENDIX. 359

ovate. In consequence of its having been in the crop
of a duck, the surface of the shell is somewhat eroded,
and the apex is broken off. Long. J- inch. — Hab.
Esquimalt Harbour. (Brit. Mus.) — 'Taken from the
crop of a pin-tail duck.' — /. K. Lord.

LITTOBINHLE.

Littorina scutulata. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks;

abundant.
— sitkana. (Phil.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks ; abundant.

Amnicola Hindsii. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa retusa, solidula, viridi-olivacea, minute lon-
gitudinaliter undulato-striata, transversim obscure li-
rata, apice erosa ; anfractibus quatuor, ultimo prope
medium retuse-carinato, ad suturas canaliculate, suturis
impressis ; columella albida ; apertura caerulescente.

This species resembles somewhat the Paludina
seininalis of Hinds, but it differs in contour, being
bluntly carinate round the middle of the last whirl, and
in being channeled round the suture. The surface of
the shell is distinctly marked with numerous flexuous
striae, the lines of growth, and near the sutures is rather
indistinctly marked with circular strias. I have named
it after a good conchologist, who has described several
shells from the West Coast of America, and who ob-
tained the specimens of his shell from the Eio Sacra-
mento, California. Long., largest specimens, nearly
•i- inch ; lat. rather more than ^ inch. — Hab. Kiver
Kootanie, and stream at the foot of the Rocky Moun-
tains, British Columbia. (Brit. Mas.}

360 APPENDIX.

Lacuna carinata. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 10 fathoms of water.

MELANIAD.E.

Melania salicula. (Gould.) From swift streams west of the Cascades.

CEEITHIAD^E.

Potamides filosus. (Gould.) Macaulay's Point, at extreme low water.

CALYPTE^ID^E.

Crepidula excavata. (Brod.) Esquimalt Harbour, at low water.

— exuviata. (Nutt.) Esquimalt Harbour, in holes bored by Saxicavje

between tide marks.

- unguiformis. (Lamk.) Esquimalt Harbour, and attached to stones

between tide marks.

— nummaria. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, and attached to stones

between tide marks.

— adunca. (Sowerby.) Esquimalt Harbour, and attached to stones

between tide marks.

Calypteea fastigiata. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 8 to 10 fathoms
water.

TROCHID.E.

Ziziphinus annulatus. (Gray.) Macaulay's Point, low water.

- ligatus. (Gould.)

Trochus pollygo. (Martin.) Esquimalt Harbour, collected by Dr. Lyall.
Margarita custellata. (Sowerby.) Macaulay's Point, low water.

FISSURELLIB.E.

Fissurella crutitia. (Gould.) Macaulay's Point, low water. Many of
the fish contained a parasitic worm, Lepidonotus Lordii. Vide
Vol. I.

• APPENDIX. 361

TECTUEID^E.

Tectura leucophea. (Nutt.) Between tide marks.
— persona. (Esch.)

- patina. (Esch.)

- testudinali. (Nutt.)

— instabilis. (Gould.)
- mitella. (Menke.)

— scutum. (Esch.)

— Cumingii. (Reeve.)
Scurria mitra. (Esch.)

All common along the coast, on
rocks between tide marks.

CHITONID.E.

Ischnochiton levigatus. (Fat.)

- dentiens. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, dredged 10 fathoms.
Chiton Wosnessenskii. (Midd.)

- muscosus. (Gould.) Kocks between tide marks.

- stelleri. (Gould.) Macaulay's Point.
Tonicia lineata. (Gray.) Dredged 10 fathoms.
Katharina tunicata. (Gray.) Eocks between tide marks.

BULLINID^E.

Bullina (Tornatina) eximia. (Nov. Sp.)

Testa cylindracea, viridi-lutescente, striata; striis
minutis, confertis, undulatis ; spira concava, excavata ;
apertura longa, ad basin effusa ; labro acuto ; columella
prope basin subito arcuata.

Two or three specimens of this pretty species of
Bullina were dredged, with the animals alive, in 12
fathoms water; and several others were taken out of the
stomach of a pin-tail duck shot in the harbour. The
shell is cylindrical, and minutely striated with numerous
flexuous lines. The spire is very short and concavely

362 APPENDIX. •

excavated ; while the aperture is of considerable length,
and the columella at the base suddenly arched. Long,
i inch. — Hob. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island.
(Brit. Mus.}

HELICIDJE.

Helix TWnsendiana. (Lea.) Sumass Prairie, British Columbia.

- fidelis. (Gray.) Common east and west of the Cascades ; occurs

6,000 feet above sea level.

- Dupetit-Thouarse. (Desch.) Sumass Prairie and Vancouver Island.

- villicata. (Forbes. ) Sumass Prairie and Vancouver Island.

- Columbiana. (Lea.) Banks of the Fraser River.

SUCCINHLE.

Succinea rusticata. (Gould.) Sumass Prairie.

Suc&inea HawJdnsii. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa elongato-obovata, tenui, pellucida, nitida,
undulato-striata, rubella, intus margaritacea, spira acuta;
anfractibus quatuor, convexis, ultimo duos trientes
longitudinis testa? adequante, sutura impressa, apertura
ovali, inferne effusa.

This shell is of an elegant form, and of a pinkish
colour, with the interior of a pearly lustre. It is smooth
and shining, but marked with waved striae of lines of
growth. It resembles very much in figure the Succinea
Pfeifferi of Europe, but is of a still more elegant shape,
and of a brighter hue.

I have named it after Lieut.-Col. Hawkins, R. E.,
Commissioner of the British North -American Boundary
Commission. Long, f inch ; lat. ^ inch. — Hab. Lake
Osoyoos, British Columbia. (Brit. Mas.*)

APPENDIX. 363

LIMNJEID.E.

Lymnea stagnalis. (Linn.) Lake Osoyoos, replaced west of the Cascades

by L. Sumassii.

Lymnea Sumassii. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa elongata, attenuata, cornea, fragili ; anfractibus
sex, ultimo cseteris duplo majore; apertura mediocri;
columella forte plicata ; superficie externa, sub lente,
creberrime et minutissime decussata.

This species of Limncea approaches L. elodes of Say,
but is more elongated, more fragile, and has the colu-
mella very strongly plicated. The surface of the shell,
when seen under a lens of moderate power, is finely
decussately striated. It is of a horny colour, and is of
an elongated shape. Long., largest, 1^ inch ; lat. ^ inch.
—Hob. Sumass Prairie, Eraser Eiver, British Columbia.
(Brit.Mus.)

Lymnea megasoma. (Say.) Lake Osoyoos, and streams west of Rocky

Mountains.
Physa heterostropha. (Say.) Found only east of Cascades.

Physa LordL (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa tenui, majuscula, cornea, tumida, gibbosa,
apertura magna; labro acuto, linea alba seu fusca ex-
terne notato ; superficie externa minutissime decussata ;
anfractibus sex, duobus primis minutis, nigro tinctis,
ultimo tumido, casteris quadruplo majore.

This species is one of the largest of the genus, and is
much swollen and gibbous. The outer lip is generally
marked with a streak of brown edged with white, which

364 APPENDIX.

mark is left in those specimens which are of older
growth, leaving a white callous-looking line of growth
edged with brown, nearly in the centre of the last whirl,
which is verv large, being about four times the size of

•/ ft * o

all the others put together. The two upper whirls,
which are very small, are of a black colour. The sur-
face of the shell is finely decussately striated.

The Physa heterostropha of Say abounds in the
Sumass Prairie, on the Fraser River; but its place
seems to be taken on the higher ground towards the
Eocky Mountains by the Ph. Lordi. Long, from f to
1 inch; lat. from 1 to f inch. — Hab. Lake Osoyoos,
British Columbia. (Brit. Mus.)

Planorbis trivolvis. (Say.) Common west of the Cascades, replaced

by P. corpulentis east.
- corpulentis. Abundant in the Osoyoos lakes.

Ancylus Kootaniensis. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa ovata, cinerea, concentrice striata,- vertice
antico, obtuso ; intus nitida.

The shell is of an ovate form, and is concentrically
striated, though the stria3 only appear on the lower
two-thirds of its surface, the apex being smooth and
shining. Internally the shell is shining and somewhat
pearly. Long. £ inch ; lat. £ inch. — Hab. Rivers Koo-
tanie and Spokan. {Brit. Mus. )

VENERIM:.

Chione Lordi. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa minuta, ovato-trigona, nitida, concentrice
transversim sulculata, umbonibus prominulis, nitidio-

APPENDIX. 36.5

simis, lunula nulla, extus lutescente seu albidi-olivacea,
intus alba, marginibus tenuissime crenulatis ; sinu pallii
brevi, obtusa.

This shell was taken in considerable numbers from
the crop of a pin-tail duck, shot in the harbour of
Esquimalt, Vancouver Island.

It is a small species, of an ovate-triangular shape, a
smooth shining appearance, and a light olive colour.
The surface is concentrically marked with slight grooves.
The beaks are prominent and very shining. Internally
the surface is white, the margins of the shell very finely
crenulate, and the pallial impression short and blunt.
Long, nearly £ inch; lat. rather less than £ inch.—
Hob. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island. (Brit.
Mus.)

"Venus rigida. (Gould.) Vancouver Island, mud between tide marks.
Saxidomus squalidus. (Desh.) Vancouver Island, mud between tide
marks.

Sphcerium (Cyclas) tumidum. (Baird: Nov. Sp.)

Testa ovato-trigona, tumida, olivacea, conferte
transversim concentrice forte costata; umbonibus pro-
minentibus, necnon erosis ; interne cserulescente ; mar-
gine ventrali rotundato.

This shell is of a tumid, swollen figure, and of an
ovate-trigonal shape. The colour externally is dark
olive, and it is strongly ribbed concentrically. The
beaks are prominent, and frequently eroded. The inner
surface is of a bluish tint. The ventral or lower margin
is rounded. Long. % inch ; lat. rather more than ^ inch.
— Hab. Sumass Prairie, Fraser River, British Columbia.
(Brit. Mus.}

366 APPENDIX.

|

Sphcerium (Cyclas) Spokani. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa rotundato-ovata, cornea concentrice trans-
versim conferte minute striata, nitida, sublente obsolete
punctata; umbonibus rotundatis, obtusis; interne albida;
margine ventral! rotundato.

This shell is smaller than the preceding, more
rounded, and with more obtuse beaks. The strise or
riblets are much less distinct ; the colour is pale horny
externally, and white internally. It has a shining
appearance ; but when examined by the lens, the surface
is seen to be indistinctly punctate. The specimens
taken from the Spokan Eiver are much larger than
those collected in the Kootanie. Lono-. rather less than

o

i inch ; lat. rather more than 1 inch. — Hob. Kivers
Spokan and Kootanie. (Brit. Mus.}

TELLINID.E.

Tellina nasuta. (Conrad.) Esquimalt Harbour, mud between tide marks.

Lyonsia saxicola. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa ovato-oblonga, medio gibba, tenui, fragili,
antice products., clausa, postice compressiuscula, hiante ;
umbonibus magnis, incurvis ; epidermide olivacea,
striata ; margine dorsal! rectiusculo, margine ventrali
flexuoso, hiante.

This species is the largest of the genus that has yet
been discovered. It is of an ovate-oblong shape, gib-
bous in the centre, produced anteriorly, compressed
posteriorly and gaping. The beaks are large and
incurved : it is covered with an olive-coloured epider-

APPENDIX. 367

mis, which is striated transversely. The ventral margin
is gaping and flexuous. This species resembles consi-
derably the L. navicula of Adams and Eeeve (' Zoology
of the Voyage of the Samarang '), from the Sooloo Sea,
and might be taken for a very large specimen of it,
and, indeed, is considered to be so by Mr. Adams him-
self, who informed me he had taken identically the same
species, as to size, &c., from the seas of Japan. Besides
the size, habitat, and place of abode, this species differs
from L. navicula in the form of the anterior extremity
of the shell and the more gaping ventral margin.
Owing to the peculiar place of abode (holes in the
rocks), it varies considerably in size and form ; but in
all the specimens which I have seen, ten in number, it
does not vary in the produced anterior extremity. The
striae seen on the surface of the epidermis do not appear
to extend from it to the shell underneath. It lodges
always in holes in the rocks, from which it is very dif-
ficult to extract it, without breaking it ; for it would
appear to take up its abode in a small hole, enlarging
it as it increases in size itself. The substance of the
shell, without being very thin, is exceedingly brittle ;
and few specimens were brought over without being-
cracked across in various places, apparently in the act
of drying. The ossicle covering the front of the inter-
nal cartilage is strong and well developed. The length
of a moderate-sized specimen is about 3 inches, of a
large specimen 4-^ inches ; the breadth from the beaks
to the ventral margin is about 2 inches and 2^ inches.
—Hob. Holes in rocks in Esquimalt Harbour, Van-
couver Island. (Brit. Mus.}

368 APPENDIX.

CARDIID^l.

Cardium corbis. (Mart.) Esquimalt Harbour, dug from sand between
tide marks ; grows to a great size, and is an important article
of Indian diet.

Leda fossa. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa elongata, ovali, antice multo breviore, rotun-
data, postice elongata, in rostrum subacutum producta,
transversim undulato-costata, in latere antico fossa trans-
versa notata ; utnbonibus promiuulis, margins ventrali
rotundato ; intus Isevi; epidermide tenui, lutescente,
nitida induta.

This little shell is of an elongate form, much reduced
posteriorly ; and near the anterior extremity it is
marked by a longitudinal depression or pit, upon which
the ribs are nearly obsolete. Long, rather more than
^ inch ; lat» rather less than ^ inch. — Hab. Esquimalt
Harbour, Vancouver Island ; dredged in from 10 to 15
fathoms water, by Dr. Lyall, of H.M.S. 'Plumper.'
(Brit Mus.)

PHOLADHLE.

Teredo fimbriata. (Jeff.) Nai-ni-mo Harbour; very destructive to
wood piles. Some pieces of wood in British Museum are
honeycombed, and only under water 4 months.

SAXICAVID.E.

Saxicava rugosa. (Lamak.) Esquimalt Harbour, between tide marks.

Crassatella Esquimalti. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa parva, cordato-trigona, crassiuscula, olivacea,
transversim undato-plicata, antice producto-rotuudata,

APPENDIX. 369

postice subtruncata, margine ventral! rotundata, um-
bonibus prominulis, lunula longe caudata.

This species approaches very much in sculpture to
the C. corrugata of Adams and Keeve (' Zoology of
the Voyage of the Samarang '), from the Sooloo Sea,
but differs very much in shape. The peculiar undulate
plications are chiefly discernible near the umbones, the
plicas or ribs on the lower third of the shell being
plain. The beaks are nearly central and prominent ;
the anterior extremity is somewhat produced, while pos-
teriorly the shell is somewhat truncate. Long, rather
more than £ inch ; lat. nearly | inch. — Hob. Esquimalt
Harbour, Vancouver Island. (Brit. Mus.}

UNIONID^l.

Anodonta cognata. (Gould.) Very abundant east and west of the

Cascades.
Alasmadonta angulata. (Say.) Columbia River, Fort Colville, not

strictly in British Columbia.

MYTILID^E.

Mytilus trossulus. (Gould.) Abundant, rocks between tide marks.
— californiensis. (Conrad.) Abundant, grows to an immense size,

sought as an article of diet by the Indians along the Vancouver

Island coast.

Nucula lyalli. (Baird : Nov. Sp.)

Testa ovate-triangular!, tumida, crassa, umbonibus
prominulis, antice breviore, subrostrata, postice declivi,
elonga,ta, margine ventrali rotundato, epidermide oli-
vacea induta, longitudinaliter utrinque costata, costis
fortibus, medio divaricatis ; intus margaritacea ; margine

VOL. II. B B

370 APPENDIX.

ventrali subcostato ; dentibus anticis ad numerum un-
decim, posticis novemdecim.

This very interesting species is the fourth of this
peculiar divaricately ribbed group which has been dis-
covered in a recent state. The three others are Nucula
divaricata and N. castrensis of Hinds, and N. mirabilis
of Adams and Eeeve. This species approaches very
nearly to the fossil species from the Crag, N. cobboldice,
but differs from it in being less transversely ovate, in
having the beaks more prominent, the posterior row of
teeth in the hinge fewer in number (in N. cobboldice
they are 22), and in the costations being stronger in
proportion to the size of the shell, and much fewer in
number. It was with some hesitation that I decided
upon describing it as a new species ; but these marks,
the size, and the habitat all induce me to consider it as
distinct. I have named it after Dr. Lyall, of H.M.S.
' Plumper,' who has sent us only one specimen. Long,
rather more than ^ inch ; lat. rather more than ^ inch.

- Hob. Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island ;
dredged by Dr. Lyall, H.M.S. ' Plumper,' in from
8 to 10 fathoms. (Brit Mus.)

PECTENLTLE.

Pecten hericius. (Gould.) Esquimalt Harbour, 8 to 10 fathoms water.
Hinnites giganteus. (Gray.) Kocks between tide marks.

OSTKID.E.

Ostrea edulis. (Lamk.) Abundant along the island and mainland

coasts.
Placunanomia cipio. (Gray.) Eocks between tide marks.

APPENDIX. 371

List of Diatomacece from Gatherings in British Co-
lumbia and on the shores of Vancouver Island.
Kindly classed for me by Dr. Wilson. (119 Species.)

Fam. i. Eunotiece.

Epithemia turgida. Columbia Kiver ; Pend'Oreille Kiver ; Lake
Osoyoos ; Cow Creek.

— proboscidea. Columbia River.

- granulata. Columbia River ; Pend'Oreille River ; Lake Osoyoos.

— gibba. Pend'Oreille River ; Cow Creek ; Lake Osoyoos.

- sorex. Columbia River.

— argus. Pend'Oreille River ; Lake Osoyoos.

- ventricosa. British Columbia.

Eunotia arcus. Tributary of Kootenay River ; Tobacco River ; Spokan
River.

- arcus (var.) Tributary of Moyee River; Pend'Oreille River.
Himantidium arcus. Columbia River.

- bidens. British Columbia.

Fam. ii. Meridiece.

Meridion circulare. Tributary of Kootenay ; Tobacco River ; Cow
Creek.

- constrictum. Pend'Oreille River.

Fam. iii. Licmophorece.

Podosphenia Ehrenbergii m. 10 fathoms. Vancouver Island.

Fam. iv. Fragillariece.

Odontidium Harrisonii. Pend'Oreille River ; Cow Creek ; tributary of
Kootenay ; Tobacco River.

— hyemale. Tributary of Kootenay River; Moyee River; Tobacco

River.

- mesodon. Source of Tobacco River.
Nitzschia sigmoidea. Cow Creek.

- amphioxys. Cow Creek.

— minutissima. Tributary of Kootenay.

- angularis m. Vancouver Island.

- sigma m. 10 fathoms. Vancouver Island.

B B 2

372 APPENDIX.

Fam. v. Surirellece.

Synedra affinis m. Shores of Vancouver Island.
Cymatopleura solea. Columbia Eiver ; Pend'Oreille River.

— elliptica. Columbia River.
Surirella biseriata. Columbia River.

- splendida. Columbia River.

- gemma m. Vancouver Island.
Campylodiscus costatus. Columbia River.

— parrulus m. Vancouver Island.

- striatus m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. vi. Striatellece.

Rhabdonema arcuatum m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

Tabellaria fenestrata. Spokan River.

Grammatophora marina m. Shores of Vancouver Island.

— mexicana m. Shores of Vancouver Island.

— serpentina in. Shores of Vancouver Island.

— serpentina (var. /3). Smith m. Vancouver Island.
Gephyria media m. Vancouver Island.

Eupleuria pulchella m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. vii. Melosirece.

Cyclotella Dallasiana. Columbia River.

— operculata. Tributary of Kootenay River.
Hyalodiscus Isevis m. Vancouver Island.

— subtilis m. Shores of Vancouver Island.

Podosira hormoides m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.
Melosira orichalcea. Columbia River ; Pend'Oreille River ; Lake
Osoyoos.

- marina m. Vancouver Island.

— nummuloides m. Vancouver Island.

— varians. Pend'Oreille River ; Cow Creek ; Spokan River.

- subflexilis. Columbia River.

Fam. viii. Coxinodiscece.

Coxinorliscus radiatus in. Shores of Vancouver Island.

— ovulus iridis m. Vancouver Island.

APPENDIX. 373

Fam. viii. Coxinodiscese — continued.
Coxinodiscus subtilis in. Shores of Vancouver Island.
Actinocyclus undulattis in. Vancouver Island.

- subtilis in. Vancouver Island.
Actinoptychus senarius in. Vancouver Island.
Arachnoidiscus Ehreubergii m. Vancouver Island, at 8 fathoms.

Fam. ix. Eupodiscece.

Auliscus coelatus m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. x. Biddulphece.

Biddulphea aurita m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

— tumida m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

- Isevis m. Vancouver Island.
Isthmia nervosa m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. xi. Anguliferece.

Triceratium Monterayii m. Vancouver Island.
Amphitetras antediluviana m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. xii. Chcetocerece.

Chsetoeeros incurvum m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. xiii. Cononeidece.

Cononeis placentula. Columbia Kiver ; Pend'Oreille Eiver ; tributary
of Kootenay.

— pediculus. Tributary of Kootenay.

— Thwaitesii. Columbia Eiver.

— pseudomarginata m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 10 fathoms.

— distans m. Vancouver Island, at 10 fathoms.

- concentrica m. Vancouver Island.

— scutellum m. Vancouver Island.

- diaphana in. Vancouver Island.

— splendida m. Vancouver Island.

- dirupta in. Vancouver Island.

- nigrescens (Grcville). New species. Vancouver Island.

— oregana (Greville). New species. Vancouver Island.

374 APPENDIX.

Fam. xiv. Achnauthece.

Achnauthidium lanceolatum. Pelouse ; Cow Creek ; tributary of

Kootenay.
Achnauthes brevipes m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

- exilis. Cow Creek.

Fam. xv. Cymbellece.

Cymbella maculata. Tributary of Kootenay River.

- Ehrenbergii. Columbia River.

Cononema cymbiforme. Kootenay River ; Pend'Oreille River.

— lanceolatum. Columbia River ; Kootenay River ; Spokan River ;

Lake Osoyoos.

- lanceolatum, var. cornutum. Columbia River.

— cistula. Columbia River.

Amphora ovalis. Columbia River ; Pend'Oreille River ; Cow Creek.

— ventricosa m. Vancouver Island.

Fam. xvi. Gomphonemece.

Gromphonema marimim m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 10
fathoms.

— dichotornum. Tributary of Kootenay River; Spokan River.

- curvatum. Tributary of Kootenay River.

— geminatum. Columbia River ; tributary of Kootenay River.

- capitatum. Kootenay River.

— Herculaneum. Columbia River ; Spokan River; Cow Creek.

- acuminatum. Pend'Oreille River.

- tenellum. British Columbia.

— constrictum. Lake Osoyoos.

Fam. xvii. Naviculacece.

Navieula dicephala. Tributary of Kootenay River.

- rhomboides. Tributary of Kootenay River; Columbia River; Moyee

River.

- elliptica. Tributary of Kootenay River; Lake Osoyoos; Pend'Oreille

River.

— maxima. Columbia River.

- gibberula. Columbia River; Pend'Oreille River ; Cow Creek.

- didyma m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

APPENDIX. 375

Fam. xvii. Naviculaceae — continued.
Navicula crabro m. Vancouver Island.
- leptogongyla. Cow Creek.

— Smithii m. Vancouver Island, at 10 fathoms.

— rhombica m. Vancouver Island.

— varians. Lake Osoyoos.

Stauroneis pulchella m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 1 0 fathom s .

— phceniceutron. Source of Tobacco River.

— anceps. Columbia Eiver.

— gracilis. Peud'Oreille Eiver.

Pleurosigma formosum m. Vancouver Island, at 10 fathoms.

— speciosum m. Vancouver Island.

— intermedium m. Vancouver Island.

— naviculaceum in. Vancouver Island.

— fasciola m. Esquimalt Harbour.

Fam. xviii. Actiniscece.

Dictyocha gracilis m. Shores of Vancouver Island, and at 8 fathoms.

— fibula m. Shores of Vancouver Island.
Mesocena elliptica m. Vancouver Island.

THE END.

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