1827, FEBRUARY MARCH. FORT VANCOUVER 241 



On the 7th, 8th, and 9th snow, with little intermission : a regular fall of 

 18 inches to 2 feet over the fvhole country. The forest presents a most 

 dismal appearance, the immense pines loaded with snow and their wide, 

 spreading branches breaking under their load. This to me irksome, being 

 prevented from going out, the snow too soft for snowshoes. On the 22nd 

 slight thaws during the day, showers of hail and rain, sometimes freezing 

 at night. To pass away the time I copied some notes of the Chenook 

 tribe of Indians. 



Thursday, February 1st to Wednesday, 28th. The changeable weather of 

 the last month continued until the 10th of this, when we had a second fall of 

 snow, 15 inches deep, which lay until the 25th, and after that, frequent rains 

 and gusts of wind. Killed a very large vulture, sex unknown. Obtained 

 the following information concerning this curious bird from Etienne 

 Lucien, one of the hunters who has had ample opportunity of observing 

 them. They build their nests in the thickest part of the forest, invariably 

 choosing the most secret and impenetrable situations and build on the 

 pine-tree a nest of dead sticks and grass ; have only two young at a time ; 

 egg very large (fully larger than a goose-egg), nearly a perfect circle and of 

 a uniform jet black. The period of incubation is not exactly known ; most 

 likely the same as the eagle. They have young in pairs. During the 

 summer are seen in great numbers on the woody part of the Columbia, 

 from the ocean to the mountains of Lewis and Clarke's River, four hundred 

 miles in the interior. In winter they are less abundant : I think they 

 migrate to the south, as great numbers were seen by myself on the Umpqua 

 river, and south of it by Mr. McLeod, whom I accompanied. Feeds on all 

 putrid animal matter and are so ravenous that they will eat until they are 

 unable to fly. Are very shy : can rarely get near enough to kill them with 

 buck-shot ; readily taken with a steel trap. Their flight is swift but 

 steady, to appearance seldom moving the wings ; keep floating along with 

 the points of the wings curved upwards. Of a blackish-brown with a little 

 white under the wing ; head of a deep orange colour ; beak of a sulphur- 

 yellow ; neck, a yellowish-brown varying in tinge like the common 

 turkey-cock. I have never heard them call except when fighting about 

 food, when they jump trailing their wings on the ground, crying ' Crup 

 Cra-a/ something like a common crow. The remainder of the month 

 heavy rains. 



Thursday, March 1st to Friday, Qth. On Friday the 2nd made a journey 

 to the sea in company with Mr. E. Ermatinger and returned on Friday 

 week. My object was to procure the little animal which forms their robe, 

 but am sorry to say was disappointed in consequence of one of the principal 

 men of the village, a cousin of my Indian friend Cockqua, dying the night 

 before I arrived, when on such occasions it is extremely difficult to get 

 them to do anything. Promises were made me that they should be 

 brought to the establishment in time for the ship. Heavy rains, with 

 light westerly winds. 



Saturday IQth to the ISth. Learning that the 20th of this month was the 

 day fixed for starting on my journey across the continent, commenced 

 packing my collections to go by sea in the first vessel for England, and 



