pine 



354 A JOURNEY TO THE 



ally build their houses on the ice, it is not always the case ; 

 for in the Southern parts of the country, par[38i]ticularly 

 about Cumberland House, I have seen, in some of the deep 

 swamps that were over-run with rushes and long grass, many 

 small islands that have been raised by the industry of those 

 animals ; on the tops of which they had built their houses, 

 like the beaver, some of which were very large. The tops of 

 those houses are favourite breeding-places for the geese, which 

 bring forth their young brood there, without the fear of being 

 molested by foxes, or any other destructive animal, except the 

 Eagle. 



The Porcu- PoRCUPiNEs ^ are SO scarce to the North of Churchill 



River, and I do not recollect to have seen more than six during 

 almost three years' residence among the Northern Indians. 

 Mr. Pennant observes in his Arctic Zoology," that they always 

 have two at a time ; one brought forth alive and the other 

 still-born ; * but I never saw an instance of this kind, though 

 in different parts of the country I have seen them killed in 

 all stages of pregnancy. The flesh of the porcupine is very 

 delicious, and so much esteemed by the Indians, that they 

 think it the greatest luxury that their country affords. The 

 quills are in great request among the women ; who make 

 them into a variety of ornaments, such as shot-bags, belts, 

 garters, bracelets, ^c. Their mode of copulation is singular, 



[i Erethizoii dorsaium (Linn.). In Hearne's time the porcupine was rather 

 common throughout the southern part of the Hudson Bay region, and ranged 

 nearly or quite to the hmit of trees. Hearne's journey to the Coppermine 

 River was mainly through the Barren Grounds, or near the edge of the timber, 

 where of course the animal was scarce, which accounts for the small number 

 seen by him. 



Now, throughout the region, constant persecution has reduced this species 

 almost to the verge of extinction, so that a person may travel hundreds of miles 

 through its range without encountering one.] 



[» "Arctic Zool.," i. p. no, 1784-] 



* This information was given to Mr. Pennant from the authority of Mr. 

 Graham; but the before-mentioned account of seeing them killed in all stages 

 of pregnancy, when no symptoms of that kind appeared, will, I hope, be 

 sufficient to clear up that mistake. 



