THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 523 



in a few moments. I have great doubts whether their 

 cries are issued at the appearance of danger or not. I am 

 of opinion that they are a mode of recognition as well 

 as of amusement. I also think they feed more at night 

 than in the day. On my return to the boat, I rounded 

 a small hill and started a Prairie Wolf within a few 

 steps of me. I was unfortunately loaded with No. 3 shot. 

 I pulled one trigger and then the other, but the rascal 

 went off as if unhurt for nearly a hundred yards, when he 

 stopped, shook himself rather violently, and I saw I had 

 hit him ; but he ran off again at a very swift rate, his tail 

 down, stopped again, and again shook himself as before, 

 after which he ran out of my sight between the hills. 

 Buffalo cows at this season associate together, with their 

 calves, but if pursued, leave the latter to save themselves. 

 The hides at present are not worth saving, and the In- 

 dians as well as the white hunters, when they shoot a Buf- 

 falo, tear off the hide, cut out the better portions of the 

 flesh, as well as the tongue, and leave the carcass to the 

 Wolves and Ravens. By the way, Bell saw a Magpie 

 this day, and Harris killed two Black-headed Grosbeaks. 

 Bell also saw several Evening Grosbeaks to-day; therefore 

 there's not much need of crossing the Rocky Mountains 

 for the few precious birds that the talented and truth- 

 speaking Mr. brought or sent to the well-paying 



Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia ! The two 

 men sent to Fort Pierre a few days ago have returned, 

 one this evening, in a canoe, the other this afternoon, by 

 land. 



May 80, Tuesday. We had a fine morning, and indeed 

 a very fair day. I was called up long before five to re- 

 ceive a Buffalo calf, and the head of another, which Mr. 

 Illingsworth had the goodness to send me. Sprague has 

 been busy ever since breakfast drawing one of the heads, 

 the size of nature. The other entire calf has been 

 skinned, and will be in strong pickle before I go to bed. 



