742 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. txviii. 



helpless. Thej^ nest in rock-sheltered holes. The male renders no 

 assistance in rearino- his otl'spring-. They spend much time among the 

 trees, on which they subsist. Indians consider them the most insolent 

 and the clumsiest of animals. Neither Doctor Russell nor the Messrs. 

 Preble met with this species on their recent arctic and Hudson Ba^' 

 expeditions. Mr. George Deschambeault says that the period of ges- 

 tation lasts about twelve months. 



YELLOW-HAIRED PORCUPINE. 



Eretliizuii cjiixdiitliKK r.randt. 



The northern Indians concede that there are two kinds of porcupines 

 ill the Canadian territories. This species, however, is more numerous 

 toward the Rocky Mountains, where it probably replaces K dorsatus. 

 The flesh of the porcupine is considered excellent eating, not onh^ b}' 

 the natives but by all who have partaken thereof. Some hunters state 

 that the females bring forth two and three at a birth. The Slave tribe 

 of Indians inhabiting the Liard and Mackenzie rivers dye the quills of 

 various colors and weave them into l)elts, garters, bands, bracelets, 

 and rings for table napkins. They also ornament bark rogans and 

 other birch articles, women and children's dresses, and the front 

 uppers of leather moccasins therewith. Mr. P. Deschambeault says 

 that he believes both species exist in the hunting grounds of the Isle 

 a la Crosse (English River district) and Lac du Brochet (Cumberland 

 district). 



BEAVER. 



Castor canadtii.'!is Kuhl. 



This well-known and valuable fur animal has been so fully described 

 by travelers, as well as naturalists, thit it is b}' no means easv to add 

 matter of interest to its history. I shall, however, venture to submit 

 a few items bearing thereon. From a consensus of statements and 

 opinions elicited by me from the examination of aged Chipewyans, of 

 Athabasca, and Carrier Indians of North Caledonia, British Columbia, 

 I believe that the sexes copulate in the months of January and Febru- 

 ary, and that the young are brought forth in April and May following. 

 The period of gestation is about three months. The young are born 

 blind and are very helpless, but both sight and strength are duly 

 acquired, and they soon display much activity. They are suckled for 

 some weeks, but earl}' learn to feed on succulent stems and the tender 

 roots of aquatic and other plants. The most prolitic females are those 

 of middle age, and they annually produce from four to five and six at 

 a birth, while instances of as many as seven and even eight are not 

 infrequent on Peace River. Chief Trader Mobei ly has known of two 

 cases, in one of which the female had eight and in the other ume little 



