■JVI jp « I . 



52 



AUDUBON 



and we intend to investigate this. He also believes 

 that Say's Flycatcher builds in rocky caverns or fissures, 

 as he found the nest of a bird in some such place, 

 after having wounded one of this species, which retired 

 into the fissures of the rock, which he examined in 

 pursuit of the wounded bird. The nest had no eggs; 

 we are going to pay it a visit. Bell was busy most 

 of the day skinning birds, and Sprague drew a beau- 

 tiful plant, I found a number of wild roses in bloom, 

 quite sweet-scented, though single, and of a very pale 

 rose-color. 



June 23, Friday. We have had a fine, warm day. The 

 hunters of Buffaloes started before daylight, and Squires 

 accompanied them ; they are not expected back till some- 

 time to-morrow. Provost went across the river with them, 

 and with the assistance of his bleating whistle, brought 

 several does round him, and a good many Wolves. He 

 killed two does, drew them to a tree, and hung his coat 

 near them while he returned for help to bring them to the 

 fort. The hunters have a belief that a garment hung 

 near game freshly killed will keep the Wolves at bay for 

 a time; but there are exceptions to all rules, as when he 

 returned with the cart, a dozen hungry rascals of Wolves 

 had completely devoured one doe and all but one ham of 

 the other; this he brought to the fort. The does at this 

 season, on hearing the "bleat," run to the spot, suppos- 

 ing, no doubt, that the Wolves have attacked their fawns, 

 and in rushing to the rescue, run towards the hunter, who 

 despatches them without much trouble, unless the woods 

 are thickly overgrown with bushes and brush, when more 

 difficulty is experienced in seeing them, although one may 

 hear them close by ; but it is a cruel, deceitful, and un- 

 sportsmanlike method, of which I can never avail myself, 

 and which I try to discountenance. Bell was busy all 

 day with skins, and Sprague with flowers, which he de- 

 lineates finely. Mr. Kipp presented me with a complete 



