16 Bird-Nesting 



savagely ; crack went the rifle and over rolled the bear, but 

 she was soon up on her feet again, he had only broken her 

 front paw, but still she renewed the attack. He again fired and 

 missed, and as matters were growing serious he took to his 

 heels, and as the bear had to run on three legs he soon left 

 her far behind, and reached the station in safety. 



The woods in this district abound with ruffed and spruce 

 grouse. The great grey owl also inhabits these forests. I 

 have a beautifnl specimen that was shot here by my friend 

 two years ago ; as it was shot late in May, there is no doul)t 

 but that they nest in the district. The train has now arrived 

 at East Selkirk, and we suddenly emerge from among the 

 trees and enter the wide, level valley of Red River of the 

 North, and in a little while we cross the river on a long iron 

 bridge, and enter the magic city of Winnipeg. 



Here we part with the friends we have made on the journey 

 from Toronto, and, gathering our baggage, we are escorted to 

 the Manor House by one of the hotel waiters, and after enjoy- 

 ing a refreshing bath and change of linen we take dinner, 

 and then go out to see the sights of the city of Winnipeg. 

 Every one should stop for a day in Winnipeg ; it is a pleasant 

 change after spending three days and nights in the railway 

 cars. Notwithstanding all you have been told about this city 

 you can hardly be prepared to find the frontier trading post 

 of yesterday transformed into a city of thirt}' tliousand 

 inhabitants, witli miles of imposing structures, large hotels, 

 banks and theatres, with beautiful churches, schools and 

 colleges, and tasteful residences, with immense mills and 

 manufactories, and with all the evidence of wealth, comfort 

 and cultivation to be found in cities of a century's growth. 

 The population of Winnipeg in 1870 was 100, now it exceeds 

 thirty thousand. Winnipeg is London or New York on a 

 small scale. You meet people from almost every part of the 

 world. The city is still growing fast, and Wlnnipeggers, in 

 referring to the future, never make comparisons with any city 

 smaller than Chicago. Winnipeg is well situated, just where 

 the forests end and the vast prairies begin, with thousands of 



