HUNTING ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER. 223 



HUNTING ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER. 



IN the great plains on the east side of the Columbia, 

 says Mr. Ross Cox, between Oakinagan and the Spokan 

 lands, there are, during the autumnal months, plenty of 

 deer, grouse, wild ducks, and geese. 



I spent a great portion of this period with a few of my 

 men and some Indians, on shooting excursions, and had 

 excellent sport. 



We stopped one very sultry day about noon to rest our 

 horses, and enjoy the cooling shade afforded by a clump 

 of sycamore-trees with a refreshing draught from an ad- 

 joining spring. Several large hawks were flying about 

 the spot, two of which we brought down. From their 

 great size, immense claws, and large hooked beaks, they 

 could have easily carried off a common-sized duck or 

 goose. Close to our resting-place was a small hill, round 

 the top of which I observed the hawks assemble, and 

 judging that a nest was there, without communicating 

 my intention to any of the party, I determined to find it 

 out. 



I therefore cautiously ascended the eminence, on the 

 summit of which I perceived a nest larger than a com- 

 mon-sized market-basket, formed of branches of trees, 

 one laid regularly over the other, and the least of which 

 an inch in circumference. Around it were scattered 

 bones, skeletons, and half-mangled bodies of pigeons, 

 sparrows, humming-birds, &c. Next to a rattlesnake 

 and shark, my greatest aversion is a hawk ; and on this 

 occasion it was not diminished by observing the remains 



