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 



