viii PREFACE. 



As an apology for the too numerous typographical and other errors, the authors can only say that 

 about half of the work was hurried rapidly through the press without their supervision, and the rest 

 printed in four days. Still, they feel satisfied that there are fewer errors than usual in similar Govern- 

 ment publications, owing chiefly to the kindness of Prof. Baird in correcting the first part of the proofs 

 in the midst of a vast amount of other more urgent business. To him, also, they are indebted for obtain- 

 ing the excellent copper-plate illustrations of the Natural History, so far superior to the lithographic 

 transfers of the Government copies, and for arranging much of the manuscript for press. 



The plates of scenery are selected as illustrating the various features of the route, and like the main 

 part of the work, refer more especially to Washington Territory, as the most interesting portion of it. 

 Lake Jessie in Minnesota, and the great Missouri Falls in Nebraska, are characteristic of the eastern 

 portion. Two represent the most desolate parts of the upper Columbia caiions, and four others, the 

 magnificent scenes near the Pacific coast. None of the plates in this volume have been before published 

 in any of the series. 



EXPLORATIONS IN 1853-4 CONNECTED WITH THE P. R. R. EXPEDITION. 



The following brief sketch of the journeys made by the naturalists of the expedition in collecting 

 these materials, seems necessary to accompany the volume. 



Under the acts of Congress approved March 3, 1853, authorizing the Secretary of War to organize 

 parties " to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi river 

 to the Pacific Ocean ; " that from St. Paul's, Minnesota, to Puget's Sound, was placed in charge of Isaac 

 I. Stevens, just appointed Governor of Washington Territory, and late Major, United States Engineers. 

 The line of exploration was divided into two parts, so that separate parties working simultaneously at 

 both ends of the route, much more might be effected in a shorter period. 



The eastern division, under the personal direction of Gov. Stevens, was the one to which Dr. Suckley 

 was attached as surgeon and naturalist. He reached the camp of the division near Fort Snelling, Min- 

 nesota, on May 24, after picking up some interesting and even new species of animals along the upper 

 Mississippi, above St. Louis. 



Proceeding northward, June 6, the party left the Mississippi at Sauk rapids, and turned towards 

 the west on the 10th. Traveling at the rate of eighteen and a third miles a day, they reached Fort 

 Union, Nebraska, August 1, seven hundred and fifteen and a half miles, by the route traveled. Two- 

 thirds of this was through tlie level, marshy, and lake-dotted plains of Minnesota, with a luxuriant 

 prairie vegetation, and abounding in game and fish. The remainder, passing over the Coteau des 

 Prairies to the Missouri, was characterized by saline and stagnant lakes, less abundant vegetation, and 

 fewer species of animals. Dr. Suckley made an excursion off the route of the main party up to the head 

 Mouse river, north of latitude 49°, returning to Fort Union by way of White-earth river. Unfortunately, 

 a considerable part of the collections from this part of the route, were lost on the way to Washington, 

 chiefly those preserved in alcohol. 



At the same time, Lieutenants Donelson and Mullan were traveling by steamboat up the Missouri, 

 having left St. Louis May 24, and reached Fort Union, July 3, collecting numerous specimens on the 

 way, of which those in alcohol were also lost. 



Proceeding westward, August 9, they traveled to Fort Benton 3111 miles, at about fourteen miles a 

 day, reaching there September 8. Few specimens were to be obtained in this part, though the rivers 

 continued to furnish many new fish. Vegetation was scanty compared to the eastern part. Wagons 



