66 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



nearing the caribou, he found that they had moved to a 

 snow-bank higher up the slope, and not distinguishing 

 the leader of the band he killed two of the smaller bulls. 

 After he had fired, the leader, followed by the whole 

 band, came trotting up to him in curiosity. Just beyond 

 the bulls he had seen a band of five cows and calves. 



Soon after Rungius came in it began to rain very 

 hard and continued until after mid-day, when he started 

 back for the main camp. I intended to remain a few more 

 days to search for rams, and asked him to have one of 

 the men bring me more provisions. Since the mountains 

 and ridges became enveloped in a heavy mist, it was 

 necessary to remain about camp. Alaska jays were now 

 numerous, and two Northern shrikes were there, stealing 

 any morsel that they could find. Although the shrikes 

 would snatch everything and fly off, they would only 

 eat meat. They were extremely quarrelsome and always 

 drove off the jays until they could help themselves. 

 Ground-squirrels had become bold and would come to 

 the frying-pan as I held it, to eat the bacon grease. All 

 these provided interesting company until evening, when 

 Spahr appeared with two horses, bringing a supply of pro- 

 visions. I sent him back with Rungius's caribou skin. 

 It rained all night. 



July 30. After breakfast, on the range to the south, 

 I saw a ewe and two lambs feeding low. The lambs 

 were sporting about. Through the glasses the dark 

 stripes on the ewe's legs and the gray on the back were 

 distinctly visible. As the mountains were covered with 

 mist, I waited and watched the sheep feeding until they 



