JOURNEY TO GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE 165 



like the jackal, is not above feasting on the leavings of its 

 betters. For if the bear neglects to bury the remains of 

 its prey, and the wolves fail to be the first discoverers of 

 the feast, the lynx will eat greedily until he is disturbed, 

 returning again and again while the meat lasts, but 

 always retiring on the approach of the master of the 

 prey. 



I never could learn anything satisfactory of the 

 breeding habits of the lynx. It is a very quiet animal. 

 I never heard it crying at night, as the puma does ; and 

 it never approaches the solitary camp of the hunter, 

 which is quite a common habit of the former animal. 

 The fur of the lynx is of a reddish grey colour, and there 

 are dark markings indicative of spots on several parts of it. 

 There is no material difference between the European and 

 the American lynx. 



The time had now arrived for me to move southward. 

 I had seen enough of Canada and the great North-West to 

 convince me that it would be a mistake for me to attempt 

 to settle in the country, dearly as I love the grand old flag 

 and wished to remain under its segis. It is to be under- 

 stood that I have no fault to find with the country itself, 

 which is a magnificent territory; but, though I am no 

 weakling, I could not stand the Canadian winters. 

 Excessive cold has the same effect on me that excessive 

 heat has on most persons — it weakens and it enervates. 

 This is, no doubt, owing to the infirmity from which 

 I suffer, the result of an injury during boyhood, to which 

 I have alluded often enough. 



Having made up my mind to remove to the United 

 States, I was yet in no hurry to leave British territory. 

 I wished to explore the shores of the splendid Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, Circumstances, and the need of husband- 

 ing my means, prevented my fully gratifying this desire ; 

 but the results of my partial journeys are now given. 



The leaving my Indian friends was a painful affair. 

 I had lived long and closely enough with them to feel 



