504 AUDUBON 



diversions in their course, made to the hill-tops and dis- 

 appeared altogether. We stopped to wood at a very pro- 

 pitious place indeed, for it was no less than the fort put 

 up some years ago by Monsieur Le Clerc. Finding no 

 one at the spot, we went to work cutting the pickets off 

 his fortifications till we were loaded with the very best 

 of dry wood. After we left that spot, were found several 

 Pipilo arcticus which were shot, as well as a Say's Fly- 

 catcher. The wind rose pretty high, and after trying our 

 best to stem the current under very high cliffs, we were 

 landed on Poncas Island, where all of us excepting 

 Squires, who was asleep, went on shore to hunt, and to 

 shoot whatever we might find. It happened that this 

 island was well supplied with game; we saw many Deer, 

 and Bell killed a young Doe, which proved good as 

 fresh meat. Some twelve or fourteen of these animals 

 were seen, and Bell saw three Elks which he followed 

 across the island, also a Wolf in its hole, but did not 

 kill it. Sprague saw a Forked-tailed Hawk, too far off 

 to shoot at. We passed several dead Buffaloes near the 

 shore, on which the Ravens were feeding gloriously. The 

 Pipilo arcticus is now extremely abundant, and so is the 

 House Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, etc. We have seen 

 this day Black-headed Gulls, Sandpipers, and Ducks, and 

 now I am going to rest, for after my long walk through 

 the deep mud to reach the ridge on the islands, I feel 

 somewhat wearied and fatigued. Three Antelopes were 

 seen this evening. 



May 22, Monday. We started as early as usual, i. e., 

 at half -past three; the weather was fine. We breakfasted 

 before six, and immediately after saw two Wild Cats of 

 the common kind ; we saw them running for some hun- 

 dreds of yards. We also saw several large Wolves, notic- 

 ing particularly one pure white, that stood and looked at 

 us for some time. Their movements are precisely those 

 of the common cur dog. We have seen five or six this 



