4 6 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



c. A collection of Insects and such Invertebrates as you can find 

 means of procuring. 



d. Notes and specimens, so far as practicable, of the Flora of the 

 country. 



e. Notes and specimens regarding the Geology and Paleontology of 

 the regions visited. 



/. Ethnological specimens illustrating the life, habits, manufactures, 

 etc., of the natives. Notes of songs, folk-lore, traditions, religious 

 conceptions and myths, are especially desired. 

 g. Meteorological observations, particularly at your winter post, for 

 which a set of instruments has been provided by the United States 

 Weather Bureau. 

 4. The Hudson's Bay Company and the Canadian Pacific Railroad Com- 

 pany, having granted very generous concessions for the furtherance of 

 your expedition, this University desires that any information secured by 

 you that may be of service to these corporations, be reported to them at 

 your earliest convenience. You are also instructed to be guided largely in 

 your plans by the experience and suggestions of the officers of the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company, who are familiar with the far north. 



You are also expected to report as often and as fully as possible of the 

 progress of your work in the field, and to take full notes embodying all 

 matters of interest which come under your notice. 



C. C. Nutting, 

 Professor of Systematic Zoology, 



State University of Iowa. 



I was detained at Winnipeg until March 21st, when I received 

 my outfit from the custom house and started westward. 



Until we had passed the shore line of the ancient Lake 

 Agassiz the Manitoba Plains appeared under their snowy 

 mantle as level as a lake. No signs of a thaw had as yet 

 appeared. On the second day the country became more roll- 

 ing. That afternoon we passed two recently ditched loco- 

 motives and learned that three trains were snowed in ahead of 

 us; after a delay of thirty-six hours our journey was continued. 



Between Forbes and Dunmore interesting fossils of the Cre- 

 taceous occur, but were at that season buried under the snow. 

 Within five miles of Medicine Hat two small herds of antelope 

 were seen near the track, though they have now been nearly 

 exterminated, and their feeding grounds have been fenced in 

 large ranches. Several herds of horses were pawing up the 

 snow to reach the grass. Behind them came the cattle, which 

 do not dig for themselves, but depend upon the horses to un- 

 cover the grass for them. 



