Gulf of St. Lawrence. 199 



C. fulvus (The American Fox). — Three varieties of the fox, 

 the black, silver- grey and yellow, exist thoughout the district. 



Lynx Canadensis (The Loup-cervier or Canada Lynx) — 

 Abundant, and much sought after by the hunters. 



Phoca — ? (Seal). — A seal generally of a mottled grey colour, 

 ascends the St. Lawrence beyond Cacouna. Farther down the 

 river, we sometimes saw, during summer, quite a number of them 

 rwimming together. 



Castor fiber (The Beaver). — Formerly when the fur of the 

 beaver brought such a high price, they were very much hunted 

 in this part of the country, but since it has fallen to less than 

 quarter of what it was, the Indians do not kill them, except when 

 an opportunity of shooting one accidentally falls in their way, and 

 they consequently now re-occupy, often in great numbers, the 

 places which they had long deserted. 



Fiber zibethicus (The Musk-Rat. ) — This animal, so abundant 

 in all other parts of Canada, is likewise so, in the lakes and quiet 

 streams of our present district. 



Mus musculus (The Common Mouse) — Infests barns in the 

 summer time. 



Pteromys volucella (The Common Flying-Squirrel). — Rare. 



Sciurus {Tamias) Lysteri (The Chip-inunk). — Rare also. 



S. Hudsonius (The Red Squirrel). — Abundant throughout the 

 whole district. 



Hystrix pilosus (dorsata) (The Canada Porcupine) — Appears 

 to be much more abundant in the north-eastern part of the dis- 

 trict (Gaspe) than in the counties of Rimouski, or Bonaventure. 

 They become light grey or almost white when very old, but are 

 said to be the same colour all the year round. 



Lopus Americaaus (The American Hare). — iNot withstanding 

 its numerous enemies, is probably the most abundant quadruped 

 in the wo ds. 



Cervus alces (The Moose Deer or Elk). — For the last few y>ars 

 most of the hunters have devoted their time to killing the moose 

 simply for the sake of their skins, which now command a higher 

 price than formerly, and this they do at any seas<»n of the ye 

 which suits their own convenience. We were informed, that a 

 party of these hunters had procured 300 >kins the previous winter, 

 and that another party of only three Indians had killed during 

 the same season between 90 and 100 on one expedition, as many 

 as six sometimes falling a prey to them in one day, yet still these 

 noble animals roam in vast numbers over the district. 



