APPARENT ABSENCE OF ANIMAL LIFE. 315 



Sartin, Mister," concluded my old informant, " moose not 

 all the same as other beast." 



Nothing strikes a person travelling in the woods for the 

 first time in the depth of winter so much as the extreme 

 I may say solemn silence which prevails. No sound of 

 any sort strikes the ear, save at intervals the cracking 

 of the trees. Nor does any track or sign indicate to 

 the casual observer the existence of any animal life. 

 This is explained by the fact that in very cold weather 

 no animals but the cariboo and the loupcervier (Felis 

 Canadensis) move about much. Even the few birds that 

 winter in the country remain in sheltered places, in 

 hollow trees, or under the snow. Several quadrupeds 

 that do not hybernate regularly, like the bear, provide 

 themselves with little homes, in hollow trees and else- 

 where, and stores of provisions. Among these are the 

 common red squirrel (Seiurus Hudsonius), the flying 

 squirrel (Pteromys sdbrinius), the wood-chuck (Ardomys 

 monax), the skunk (Mephitis Americana), and two or 

 three sorts of mice. The sable (Mustela martes), and 

 the black cat (M. Canadensis), in districts where they 

 abound, are rarely seen by the hunter. An old trapper 

 assured me that, in the whole course of his experience, he 

 had seen but one sable alive. The rabbit, or rather the 

 hare (Lepus A.), is rarely seen, thanks to the snow-white 

 jacket given it by nature for its protection in winter. 

 Neither is the ermine weasel (Mustela erminea), for the 

 same reason. The ruffed grouse ( T. umbellus), and the 

 Canadian grouse (T. Canadensis), live aloft in the trees, or 

 when they do come down it is merely to take a header 



