354 APPENDIX F 



Lake on August 18, and a number of skulls left by trappers were 

 picked up at Fort Reliance, at the eastern extremity of Great 

 Slave Lake. We learned from Thomas Anderson, of Fort Smith, 

 that the species is often taken at Fort Chipewyan, as well as at 

 Fond du Lac, near the eastern extremity of Athabaska Lake. 

 He stated also that the species often reaches as far south as Cree 

 Lake, southward of Athabaska Lake. 



Ursus americamis Pallas. Black Bear. 



Black bears are rather common throughout the wooded part 

 of the country. We frequently saw tracks on the muddy mar- 

 gins of the rivers during the summer and early fall. At Atha- 

 baska Landing, a young cub of a yellowish color was seen. It 

 had been taken from a den which contained the mother a 

 black bear and three cubs, one of which was black, and the 

 other two yellowish. An old bear and two cubs were killed by 

 Sousie Beaulieau, south-east of Smith Landing, about the middle 

 of June. The mother had a large white patch on her breast, as 

 had also each of the young. Their muzzles were brown. Both 

 the cubs were males. Their stomachs were crammed with the 

 buds and leaves of poplar, and the leaves and berries of Arcto- 

 staphylos uva-ursi. 



The red berries of Shepherdia argentea, which we found grow- 

 ing on the banks of the Athabaska, below Brule Rapid, are said 

 to be much sought for by bears. Last year Robillard roused a 

 bear in this thicket. 



Ursus horribilis Ord. Grizzly Bear. 



We learned from Thomas Anderson that a grizzly was killed 

 two years before our visit near the Birch Mountains, fifty or sixty 

 miles north-west of Fort McKay. They are considered very scarce 

 in this region, though plentiful at times along Peace River. 



Lutra canadensis (Schreber). The Canada Otter. 



This species is of general distribution, though rare. We did 

 not meet with it in the flesh, but saw a fine skin in possession of 

 the Indian at Salt River village, on the Great Slave River. 



