86 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



bit cruelly ; also] dragon-flies, and other flying insects 

 which seemed to be attractive to a number of small birds, 

 amongst which I thought I recognised the common 

 swamp - sparrow, Melospiza (jeorgiana ; but I can say 

 nothing certain of these small birds, as specimens could 

 not be obtained, those shot falling amongst the thicket of 

 reeds where they could not be found. However, it may 

 be taken for granted that the small passerine birds 

 described farther on in this, and the next chapter, were 

 all seen on the banks of Winnipeg. 



The gulls were of the same species as those already 

 mentioned as frequenting the great lakes ; but that most 

 numerous was the species very closely resembling Larus 

 canus, insomuch that at most it is but a variety of that 

 bird. 



At certain spots close inshore I almost daily saw 

 snipe in small parties of three to a dozen. They were 

 very wild, rising as soon as the canoe got to within a 

 hundred and fifty yards of them ; but I succeeded in 

 securing three, several others being lost owing to the 

 nature of the ground where they were shot. These 

 birds are called by American ornithologists the common 

 English snipe, Gallitiago delicata. It is " Wilson's snipe " 

 of English naturalists, and certainly differs from the 

 " common " snipe. Their breeding - grounds are un- 

 doubtedly on the shores of this lake, as I am certain 

 that some of them were young ; but, of course, all 

 birds have finished their nesting in this region before 

 the end of August. 



We kept along the eastern shore, generally two 

 or three miles from land, making some forty or fifty 

 miles a day with the aid of paddles alone. For though 

 sails are sometimes used in canoes, they are never 

 safe, and we had none. We slept ashore, as a matter of 

 course, throughout the journey, generally on the ground, 

 but, where procurable, on a bed of spruce branches. If 

 a settler's hut lay in our way we were sure of a friendly 



