'The Peregrmc FaJcoj}.— Ferocity of the Bear. Ill 



tJapt. McChire's expedition, it is scarceh^ necessary to state, 

 was by sea, by Cape Horn throLtgii the Pacific Oi;ea». and tiience 

 inlo the Arctic Ocean from the west. He left Plymouth in the " In- 

 vestigator" on the 20th January, 1850, and was frozen in during the 

 autumn of 1851, on tlie north coast of Bank's Laud, a Large is- 

 land in the Arctic Sea, about half tb.e distance between the two 

 extremes of the pns'^age sought to be explored. Here they re- 

 mained until April, 1853, when they were discovered by the crew 

 of the "Resolute" under Ca}!t. Kellett, who had entered the 

 passage from the Atlantic side in search of Sir John Franklin. 



By Captain McClure and his brave pariy the most famous pro- 

 blem in the physical geography of the globe has been solved, and 

 though the result-s can n<8ver be made of any great copamerciai 

 importance, yet, as .sdl new truths contribute to the intellectual 

 advanceraeut and happiness of our race, the labour has not been 

 lost. To such of our readers as feel inclined to explore the 

 frozen regions of the noith by tireir own comfortable firesides, we 

 cheerfully recommend the works from wluch the following ex- 

 tracts are taken. They are illustrated by some exceedingly good 

 plates of the Indian tribes and of Arctic scenery, and are full of 

 new and entertaining facts. The natural history observations 

 are particularly interesting, and it is from these that we shall 

 make a few selections. 



1. The ^ysregrine falcon — Sir John Richardson, while descend- 

 ing the Mackenzie River, noticed the nest of a peregrine falcon on 

 a cliff of sandstone rock. This bird is not rare throughout that 

 region where it preys on the passenger pigeons and smaller birds, 

 " Mr„ Mcpherson, says Sir John, related to me one of its feats, 

 which he witnessed some years previously as he was ascending 

 the river. A white owl [Struce nyctea^) in flying over a cliff, 

 seized and carried otT an uniledged peregrine in its claws, and, 

 crossing to the opposite beach, lighted to devour it. The parent 

 bii'd followed, scream.ing loudly, and stooping with extreme ra- 

 pidity, killed the owl by a single blow, after which it flew quickly 

 back to its nest. -On coming to the spot, Mr. McPherson picked 

 up the owl, but thongh he examined it narrowly he could not 

 detect in what part the death blow liad been received ; nor could 

 he fi'oni the distance perceive whether the peregrine struck it 

 Vv'ith Aving or claws." — Richardson^ Vol. l., page 206. 



2. A Flare Indian devoured by a Bear. — By Mr. Bell, I was 

 infoimed of the melancholy death of an Indian in the vicinity of 



