185 



carry away the game he may have killed, though a fire be 

 lighted for its protection. I procured specimens of this ani- 

 mal at Carlton, in the spring of 1827. 



There is another small species of Tox found in the plains, 

 which the traders call the Kit Fox, it is the smallest of the 

 genus that I have ever seen. The traders furnished us with 

 skins of it, but it did not fall under my observation in a 

 living state. 



The different species of Arctomys, or Ground Squirrel, have 

 been already described by Dr. Richardson. Three of them 

 are found in the vicinity of Carlton House : they are the 

 Arctomys Franklinii, A. Richardsoni, and A. Hoodii. All are 

 lively and beautiful animals. The former, when pursued by 

 dogs, will sometimes climb up a tree, but it is an unwieldy 

 creature in such circumstances, when compared with the 

 Hudson^s Bay Squirrel, which it somewhat resembles. 



The birds most worthy of notice are the Tetrao Phasian- 

 ellus, the Pheasant of the traders, or Pin-tailed Grous : these 

 abound on the plains. They ai'e about as big as the British 

 grous, of a much lighter colour, and having two of the tail 

 feathers projecting about two inches beyond the rest, whence 

 the name is derived. In habit, these birds resemble the 

 common grous, they make their nests on the ground, laying 

 fi'om five to ten or a dozen eggs, which are like those of a 

 partridge. They keep in families until winter, when they 

 congregate in large coveys. At pairing time, which is the 

 month of May, the Pin-tailed Grous select some little emin- 

 ence, to which they resort at daybreak in great numbers, 

 jumping, running round each other, chuckling, and pei-form- 

 ing many curious manoeuvres; and this they continue to do 

 for several weeks, until the ground is worn quite bare, when 

 they separate in pairs for the season. Their flesh is well- 

 flavoured, and the sportsman would find excellent amuse- 

 ment in following them. 



Among the numerous species of Duck that frequent the 

 lakes of the plain, may be particularised the Buddy Duck, 

 remarkable for the brilliant blue colour of the bill of the 

 male, and the singular way in which, when courting or 



