SPORT. 89 



in that part of the province west of Three Kivers ; nor 

 between the 15th of May and the 1st September in any 

 year to the east of Three Kivers, except in that part of the 

 province to the east of the Brandy Pots, in which part of 

 the province the inhabitants may kill wild fowl at any 

 time of the year for food, but for no other purpose." 



From the 1st of September till the commencement of 

 December, and again from the 1st of April to the middle 

 of June, the lower St. Lawrence swarms with wild fowl of 

 many different varieties. Most of them breed in Lower 

 Canada ; a few, such as the brant goose (Bernicla Brenta), 

 the old squaw (Harelda Glaeidlis), and a few others, go 

 farther north to hatch. There are two sorts of grouse in 

 Lower Canada, the T. Umbellus and T. Canadensis. The 

 Newfoundland grouse (T. Rupestris) occasionally migrate 

 to the adjacent mainland, and I believe specimens have 

 been shot not far from Quebec. There is fair snipe shoot- 

 ing on some of the islands in the St. Lawrence (where they 

 breed) in the months of September and October. This is 

 also the cock-shooting season, but cock are more plentiful 

 in Canada West on the one side, and in the maritime 

 provinces on the other, than in Quebec. 



The trapper flourishes in the less frequented parts of 

 the province. Some of the French habitants are good fur- 

 hunters, but the best are the Montaignais and Squawpe 

 Indians of the north shore, who spend half the year in the 

 fur countries. Beaver are still pretty numerous on the 

 heads of most Lower Canadian rivers, so are otter and mink. 

 Of land fur bears and loup-cerviers are the most plentiful. 

 Marten and foxes are getting scarce. The best ground for 



