l6o AUDUBON 



Walked six miles on the prairies, but saw only three bulls. 

 The wind has risen to a gale. Saw abundance of Black- 

 breasted Prairie Larks, and a pond with Black Ducks. 

 Returned to the pond after dinner and killed four Ducks. 



Sunday, 3d. Beautiful, calm, and cold. Left early and 

 at noon put ashore to kill a bull, having no fresh meat on 

 board. He took the wind and ran off. Touched on a 

 bar, and I went overboard to assist in pushing off and 

 found the water very pleasant, for our cold morning had 

 turned into a hot day. Harris shot a Prairie Wolf. At 

 half-past four saw ten or twelve Buffaloes. Mr. Culbert- 

 son, Bell, a canoe man, and I, went after them; the cattle 

 took to the river, and we went in pursuit; the other canoe 

 man landed, and ran along the shore, but could not head 

 them. He shot, however, and as the cattle reached the 

 bank we gave them a volley, but uselessly, and are again 

 under way. Bell and Mr. C. were well mired and greatly 

 exhausted in consequence. No meat for another day. 

 Stopped for the night at the mouth of the Moreau River. 

 Wild Pigeons, Sandpipers, but no fish. 



Monday, 4-th. Cool night. Wind rose early, but a fine 

 morning. Stopped by the wind at eleven. Mr. Culbert- 

 son. Bell, and Moncr^vier gone shooting. Many signs of 

 Elk, etc. , and flocks of Wild Pigeons. A bad place for 

 hunting, but good for safety. Found Beaver tracks, and 

 small trees cut down by them. Provost followed the bank 

 and found their lodge, which he says is an old one. It is 

 at present a mass of sticks of different sizes matted to- 

 gether, and fresh tracks are all around it. To dig them 

 out would have proved impossible, and we hope to catch 

 them in traps to-night. Beavers often feed on berries 

 when they can reach them, especially Buffalo berries 

 \_Shepherdia argentea\ Mr. Culbertson killed a buck, 

 and we have sent men to bring it entire. The Beavers 

 in this lodge are not residents, but vagrant Beavers. The 

 buck was brought in ; it is of the same kind as at Fort 



