1826, JANUARY MARCH. FORT VANCOUVER 155 



by the Canadian voyageurs for making tobacco pipe-stems. I am shortly 

 to try to take them in a baited steel-trap. I learn from the hunters 

 that the Calumet Eagle is found two degrees south of the Columbia in 

 the winter season ; two were killed by one of them. 



The variety of species of quadrupeds is not I think so great as in many 

 other parts of America. The Elk (which the hunters say agrees with 

 the Biche of the other side) is plentiful in all the woody parts of the 

 country ; is particularly abundant near the coast. Two species of Deer, 

 one called by the hunters le Chevreuil or Jumping Deer, is found in most 

 parts of the Columbia ; it is of a light grey and white on the belly and 

 inside of the legs, with a very long tail, a foot to 15 inches ; it is very 

 small, a little longer than the English Hart ; the horns are 15 inches long, 

 much curved inwards, round and small, not exceeding one or two branches ; 

 great numbers are killed on the Multnomah or Willamette River, one of 

 its southern branches. During my route in that quarter last July, with 

 a party of hunters, seventeen of this species were killed ; only one young 

 one could be preserved at the time. The other, the Black-tailed Deer, 

 is not so abundant as the former, grows larger, darker grey on the back, 

 bluish-grey and yellow on the belly ; the ears are remarkably large, re- 

 sembling the ears of an ass, being much longer and a little broader than 

 those of the other species, brownish-black on the outside. The other's 

 ears are in colour the same as its body. The tail of the Black Deer is 

 shorter, not exceeding 8 inches to a foot. It is a much larger animal 

 than the Chevreuil. Both are found in the upland countries all through 

 that extensive range of mountains and plains in the Snake and Flathead 

 Indians' lands. The one sent home last October is a young Chevreuil 

 which I killed in August on the Multnomah where they are found in 

 abundance. As nothing would be more interesting than some knowledge 

 of this genus I have instructed several of the hunters in the mode of 

 preparing the skin and furnished them with a small portion of preserving 

 powder. I hope to get a pair at least of each. There are two species 

 of Rabbits, one of Hare, but neither have I seen alive ; the Hare is only 

 found in the interior and is said to be very large. On the Multnomah 

 there is a most singular species of Fox, smaller than any other, except 

 the White Fox of the other side. The extreme length 33 to 40 inches. 

 The hair is remarkably short, very coarse, and, what is singular, brown 

 at the base, white in the middle, and black at the points, which gives 

 a light grey ; the belly white ; sides, and sides of the neck and forehead 

 of a light brown, ears and nose somewhat black with a grey beard, with 

 a longitudinal black stroke on the back from the shoulders to the point 

 of the tail. It differs from most of the genus in its propensity for climbing 

 trees, which he mounts with as much facility as a squirrel. The first 

 that came under my notice were two skins forming a robe for an Indian 

 child, belonging to the Calapooie tribe, inhabitants of the higher reaches 

 of the Multnomah. In August 1825, I was desirous of purchasing some 

 for the purpose of showing at the establishment, but too great value 

 was put on them. On a hunting excursion in February, in company 

 with Mr. McLeod, we raised a large Lynx, a small bull and terrier dog 



