THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 527 



with fossil remains. I saw the young Elk belonging to 

 our captain, looking exceedingly shabby, but with the 

 most beautiful eyes I ever beheld in any animal of the 

 Deer kind. We have shot nothing to-day. I have heard 

 all the notes of the Meadow Lark found here and they are 

 utterly different from those of our common species. And 

 now that I am pretty well fatigued with writing letters 

 and this journal, I will go to rest, though I have matter 

 enough in my poor head to write a book. We expect to 

 proceed onwards some time to-morrow. 



June 1, Thursday. I was up at half-past three, and by 

 four Sprague and I walked to the Fort, for the purpose of 

 taking sketches of young Buffalo calves. These young 

 beasts grunt precisely like a hog, and I would defy any 

 person not seeing the animals to tell one sound from the 

 other. The calves were not out of the stable, and while 

 waiting I measured the Elk horns given me by Mr. 

 Picotte. They are as follows : length, 4 feet 6J inches ; 

 breadth 27 to 27J inches; circumference at the skull 16 

 inches, round the knob 12 inches; between the knobs 3 

 inches. This animal, one of the largest ever seen in this 

 country, was killed in November last. From seventeen 

 to twenty-one poles are necessary to put up a lodge, and 

 the poles when the lodge is up are six or seven feet above 

 the top. The holes at the bottom, all round, suffice to in- 

 dicate the number of these wanted to tighten the lodge. 

 In time Sprague made several outline sketches of calves, 

 and I drew what I wished. We had breakfast very early, 

 and I ate some good bread and fresh butter. Mr. Picotte 

 presented me with two pipe-stems this morning, quite 

 short, but handsome. At eleven we were on our way, 

 and having crossed the river, came alongside of the 

 " Trapper, " of which Mr. John Durack takes the command 

 to St. Louis. The name of our own captain is Joseph A. 

 Sire. Mr. Picotte gave me a letter for Fort Union, as Mr. 

 Culbertson will not be there when we arrive. One of 



