250 THEO'UGH THE MACKENZIE BASHSJ" 



nor, so far as known, does the male render any assistance 

 in rearing them. I am not ahle to substantiate this state- 

 ment by my OAvn experience. 



The Hudson's Bay Company does not trade rajbbit skins 

 in the interior, but from the posts situated on the shores 

 of Hudson Bay they annually export to England many 

 thousands. From 1653 to 1877 the total amounted to 

 1,418,361 skins. Twelve of these years had sales varying 

 between a minimum of 1,036 in 1871, to 45,917 in 1869, 

 and then from 50,948 in 1876 to the maximum sale of 174,- 

 715 in 1855. The three next years of the series turned out 

 141,403 in 1865, 143,930 in 1867, and 106,320 in 1868. 

 Subsequent to 1877 I have no data, except for January, 

 1897, when 81,759 skins were sold; January, 1900, with 

 18,372, January, 1902, with 5,857 and January, 1903, with 

 16,873 skins. The pelt of this valuable food animal is of 

 great service to northern Indians, who cut up the fur skins 

 into narrow strips and therewith make them into robes for 

 their women aud children, and tunics or shirts for the men 

 for winter use, and these garments certainly prove warm 

 and comfortable for them. The American hare does not 

 inhabit any of the large islands situated to the north of the 

 continent. It is there replaced by L. arcticus. ISTeither did 

 MJcClintock at its extremity (Bellot Strait) nor Ross at 

 near its centre on Boothia Felix meet with any examples 

 or traces thereof on that far extending north-eastern portion 

 of Canada's continental territory. This species has recently 

 been named in honour of the writer. 



LiTTLE-CHiEi' Haee — OcJiotona princeps (Richardson) . 



Although I have never made the acquaintance of this 

 hare-like mammal, yet from what Mr. Mdberly states I in- 

 cline to think that it is to be found_ sparingly on both sides 

 of the Rocky Mountains as far north as latitude 60° — 

 Richardson's northern limit. Moberly also refers to a 

 rabbit about the size of Lepus americarms, of a grayish 

 colour, which does not change to white in winter, while its 



