Ul 



called " blueberries," and a bracken much more soft and velvety 

 than our common English species. The trees were small, the fre- 

 quency of forest fires, which often ranged for twenty miles, effectu- 

 ally prevented the growth of large timber. By moonlight, the un- 

 broken aspect of white trunks in the devastated districts, aided by 

 the death-like silence, rendered the scene especially weird and un- 

 canny. 



As collecting ground I consider the railway banks most favourable, 

 for there the vegetation was particularly rich. I observed eight or 

 nine species of the genus Argynnis alone ; while Neuroptera were 

 abundant on the huge heads of the umbelliferous plants. An occa- 

 sional Vanessa aniiopa was seen, but the species was very local. 



The rate of travelling by rail was slow, and the stoppages frequent 

 and long, so that ample opportunity was afforded to anyone collect- 

 ing, more especially as the profuse vegetation almost touched the 

 train. A few insects boarded the train, and among them a Papilio, 

 which in one place was common. 



Only a few individuals of a species of rook were seen, on the dead 

 stumps, otherwise there seemed a total absence of bird life : while 

 the abundance of insects would seem to imply at any rate the 

 absence of insectivorous birds. Fur-bearing animals were said to 

 be in quantities, but never to approach the rail except in hard 

 weather. 



The lake region was exceptionally beautiful ; but no waterfowl 

 were noticed, and it was said that none were there but during migra- 

 tion. Fish were in large numbers, and it was the custom of the 

 townspeople to form fish encampments at some part of the year. 

 The Indians, too, had their encampments for fishing, at which they 

 are adepts. A species called the white fish is the favourite capture. 



The scenery near the head of Lake Superior was wild and grand, 

 and the engineering must have been exceedingly difficult. Yet 

 during the whole way from Quebec to Winnipeg only about four 

 tunnels were made. 



After crossing the ocean the prairie seemed to strike one as a con- 

 solidated sea. It was absolutely flat. Birds were common, and life 

 more general than in the forest region ; while the death-like silence 

 no longer existed. The species of butterflies seemed fewer, but the 

 Neuroptera and Orthoptera were everywhere, some species being ex- 

 traordinarily abundant. 



Although the climate was very hot, often 95° in the shade, yet 

 little fatigue was felt, the air being extremely dry. On one occasion 

 a journey of 84 miles on horseback was made without apparent in- 

 convenience to horse or rider. Perspiration was never any discom- 

 fort. In winter the cold was very intense, reaching sometimes 22° 

 below zero ; nevertheless it was very exhiliarating, providing proper 

 care were taken to prevent frost-bite. A species of Diptera, apparently 

 a Culex, was a most intolerable nuisance, the female attacking in 

 swarms and causing the neck, wrists, and ankles to bleed profusely, 



