187 



some neighbouring bush or small tree, where it resumes the 

 occupation of watching for flies, • 



Many small birds are also seen here in their passage to 

 more northerly regions, such as the Emheriza iiivalis^ E. 

 laponica^ &c. The large snowy owl is also met with, and a 

 small brown species, called by the natives the Beaver Owl; 

 but why so designated, I could not learn. I observed one 

 of their nests near Carlton House, built on the ground among 

 the bushes, containing two young ones, in the end of May. 



Several LepidoptercB occurred in these districts, which I 

 did not meet with in any other situations; but as their names 

 are unknown to me, I cannot particularize them. The tribe 

 of Coleoptera is scarce, which may, in some measure, be 

 owing to the grass of the prairies being frequently set on 

 fire. Amongst them I remarked a curious species of 

 Cicindelay almost white, with a slight shade of a darker 

 colour on the margin of each elytra; it inhabits sandy spots 

 near the South Branch River. The following Mosses, and 

 these only, were seen in the vicinity of Carlton House. 

 Phascum cuspidatum^ var. 2; P. muticnm^ P. serratum^ P. 

 mhexsertum^ and P. crispum. Gymnostommn tetragoiium^ G. 

 latifolium^ G. ovatum^ G. phascoides^ and G. subsessile, &c. 

 1 have already mentioned that there is little or no difference 

 perceptible between the nature and productions of the 

 country that lies between Carlton House and Edmonton. 

 It is difficult to account for these plains being almost desti- 

 tute of wood; but it may partly be owing to repeated con- 

 flagrations, which lay waste the land to a great extent, no 

 deep ravines, extensive swamps, or elevated ground inter- 

 vening to check the progress of the flames. Thus much is 

 certain, that the vicinity of Edmonton House, for many 

 miles round, was, twenty or thirty years ago, covered with 

 trees, but by being frequently set on fire, it has become 

 exactly similar to the rest. 



There are few, if any, rocks visible from the banks of the 

 ^iver, between Cumberland and Edmonton, so that I am 

 unable to decide where the junction takes place between the 

 sandstone and limestone districts; probably it is where the 



