THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 83 



I never saw or Bell either. Its measurements are : from 

 nose to anterior canthus of the eye, if in., posterior ditto, 

 2^; conch of ear, 3^ ; distances from eyes posteriorly, 2\; 

 fore feet stretched beyond nose, 3-J ; length of head around, 

 4^; nose to root of tail, i8| ; length of tail vertebrae, 6|; 

 to end of hair, 7^; hind claws when stretched equal to 

 end of tail; greatest breadth of palm, i^; of sole, \\; 

 outward width of tail at base, 3|; depth of ditto, 3^; 

 length of palm, i\; ditto of sole, i| ; height at shoulder, 

 11; at rump, 10^; longest hair on the back, 8^; breadth 

 between ears, 2|; from nostril to split of upper lip, |; 

 upper incisors, \\ lower ditto, |; tongue quite smooth; 

 weight II lbs. The habits of this animal are somewhat 

 different from those of the Canadian Porcupine. The one 

 of this country often goes in crevices or holes, and young 

 McKenzie caught one in a Wolf's den, along with the old 

 Wolf and seven young; they climb trees, however. 



Provost tells me that Wolves are oftentimes destroyed 

 by wild horses, which he has seen run at the Wolves head 

 down, and when at a proper distance take them by the 

 middle of the back with their teeth, and throw them sev- 

 eral feet in the air, after which they stamp upon their 

 bodies with the fore feet until quite dead. I have a bad 

 blister on the heel of my right foot, and cannot walk 

 without considerable pain. 



July 10, Monday. Squires, Owen, McKenzie, and Pro- 

 vost, with a mule, a cart, and Peter the horse, went off at 

 seven this morning for Antelopes. Bell did not feel well 

 enough to go with them, and was unable to eat his usual 

 meal, but I made him some good gruel, and he is better 

 now. This afternoon Harris went off on horseback after 

 Rabbits, and he will, I hope, have success. The day has 

 been fine, and cool compared with others. I took a walk, 

 and made a drawing of the beautiful sugar-loaf cactus ; it 

 does not open its blossoms until after the middle of the 

 day, and closes immediately on being placed in the shade. 



