56 AUDUBON 



of stirrups, and a most splendid Blackfoot crupper for 

 my saddle. The day has been warm and clear. We 

 caught seven catfish at the river near the fort, and most 

 excellent eating they are, though quite small when com- 

 pared with the monsters of this species on the Missouri 

 below. 



June 25, Sunday. This day has been warm and the 

 wind high, at first from the south, but this afternoon from 

 the north. Little or nothing has been done in the way of 

 procuring birds or game, except that Harris and Mr. 

 Denig brought in several Arkansas Flycatchers. Not a 

 word from the hunters, and therefore they must have gone 

 far before they met Buffaloes. A few more catfish have 

 been caught, and they are truly excellent. 



June 26, Monday. The hunters returned this afternoon 

 about three o'clock; i. e., Squires and McKenzie; but the 

 carts did not reach the fort till after I had gone to bed. 

 They have killed three Antelopes, three bull Buffaloes, and 

 one Townsend's Hare, but the last was lost through care- 

 lessness, and I am sorry for it. The men had eaten one of 

 the Antelopes, and the two others are fine males; Bell 

 skinned one, and saved the head and the fore-legs of the 

 other. One of them had the tips of the horns as much 

 crooked inwardly (backwards) as the horns of the Euro- 

 pean Chamois usually are. This afternoon early Provost 

 brought in a Deer of the large kind, and this also was 

 skinned. After this Harris and Bell went off and brought 

 in several Lazuli Finches, and a black Prairie Lark Finch 

 of the species brought from the Columbia by Townsend 

 and Nuttall. We caught several catfish and a very 

 curious sturgeon, of which Sprague took an outline with 

 the camera, and I here give the measurements. ... It 

 had run on the shore, and was caught by one of the men. 

 I made a bargain this morning with the hunter Bona- 

 venture Le Brun to procure me ten Bighorns, at $io.oo 

 apiece, or the same price for any number he may get. 



