THE TRAPPER S START INTO THE FOREST. 101 



trapper's pursuit. The black bear is also occasionally 

 discovered in his winter's hole, and his skin is worth 

 about forty shillings. The lynx is by no means un- 

 common, and generally taken by snares of hide. When 

 caught, he remains passive and helpless, and is easily 

 knocked on the head by the hunter. The other deni- 

 zens of the forests are the moose, and smaller game, 

 such as the common wood partridge, or willow grouse, 

 the pine partridge, the rabbit, and the squirrel. By 

 far the most numerous of the more valuable fur 

 animals in this region are the marten and the mink, 

 and to the capture of the former of these two — the 

 sable of English furriers — the exertions of the trapper 

 are principally directed. At the beginning of Novem- 

 ber, when the animals have got their winter coats, and 

 fur is " in season," the trapper prepares his pack, 

 which he makes in the following manner : — Folding 

 his blanket double, he places in it a lump of pemmi- 

 can, sufficient for five or six days' consumption, a tin 

 kettle and cup, and, if he is rich, some steel traps, and 

 a little tea and salt. The blanket is then tied at the 

 four corners, and slung on the back by a band across 

 the chest. A gun and ammunition, axe, knife, and 

 fire-bag, complete his equipment. Tying on a pair of 

 snow-shoes, he starts alone intx) the gloomy woods — 

 trudging silently forward — for the hunter or trapper 

 can never lighten the solitude of his journey by 

 whistling or a song. His keen eye scans every mark 

 upon the snow for the tracks he seeks. "When he 

 observes the footprints of marten or fisher, he un- 

 slings his pack, and sets to work to construct a 



