209 



Richardson, who had been looking for us some time, and had 

 become very uneasy at our delay. I immediately ex- 

 perienced the hospitality of P. Prudens, Esq. Superintendant 

 of the Fort, and I may safely say that I did justice to it; for 

 after having more than once despatched all the victuals set 

 before me, my voracity induced Dr. Richardson to inquire 

 how long I had fasted, a question which I evaded for some 

 time, under apprehension that he would use his authority to 

 prevent tlie bad consequences which sometimes result from 

 repletion after a long fast; however, I am happy to say that 

 no uncomfortable effects ensued, and after a night's rest, I 

 was almost fit for another journey. It was on the 5th of 

 April that I arrived, and immediately set about gathering 

 specimens of the different birds and animals found in the 

 neighbourhood of Carlton House. 



Having previously enumerated, so far as I could, the most 

 remarkable plants, I shall now mention a few of the animals 

 and birds that came under my observation. The one that 

 claims the first attention is the Rocky Mountain Sheep^ the 

 animal called " Big Horn" by Lewis and Clark. In size it 

 rather exceeds the largest English varieties of the common 

 sheep. The rams are very remarkable for their immense 

 and heavy horns, which turn round so as to form a volution 

 and a half; and when this is the case, I have been assured 

 that they often prove fatal to the animal, their points coming 

 in contact with the ground, and preventing them from 

 browsing. The female has small curved horns, like the 

 common goat. Instead of wool, these sheep have hair like 

 the moose deer. They are a timid inoffensive animal, 

 herding in small flocks, and, on the approach of a dog, be- 

 taking themselves to some rocky precipice, whither the 

 enemy cannot follow them ; they then become an easy prey 

 to the hunter, who may shoot them at his leisure. The 

 female brings forth one and sometimes two young at a time, 

 and hides them in some inaccessible place, where she visits 

 them once or twice a-day, to give them suck, till they are 

 strong enough to shift for themselves. They prefer the bare 

 grassy mountains where there are steep rocks, to wliich they 



p 2 



