io6 The Home of the Wolveroie and Beaver. 



may acquire the graceful art of swinging along on 

 snow shoes ? Flour would form an admirable sub- 

 stitute for snow, and the beginners would carry on 

 their coats the story of their mishaps. As the 

 latter would be very frequent, and dives into the 

 flour of momentary occurrence, may I be permitted 

 to suggest that its proprietor should call his estab- 

 lishment, when he starts it, by a name at once 

 appropriate and euphonious — the " Sink." 



In walking on snow-shoes they are never lifted 

 entirely clear of the surface, but the hind parts are 

 permitted to trail, leaving a mark upon the snow 

 by which the novice can be immediately distin- 

 guished from the proficient. The former leaves a 

 wavy, irregular line, sometimes of considerable 

 depth, at others barely grazing it, whereas the 

 trail of the latter is uniform and undeviating. 

 Notwithstanding their great size these shoes are 

 very light, and a man accustomed to their use can 

 cover thirty miles a day without difficulty. Frosty 

 weather is the easiest to travel in, as the snow is 

 fine and falls through the network without sticking, 

 if the weather be warm and the snow melting, it 

 clogs the shoe, renders it heavy, and soon galls 

 the feet. 



From the above description their use will, doubt- 

 less, seem easy enough, but an attempt to walk in 



