October, 1902.] ACCOUNT OF BEGION TEAVEESED. 19 



ridges, particularly on the western side of the Churchill, consist of a 

 succession of rounded hills, which attain a maximum altitude of about 

 100 feet, and support a shrubby, herbaceous growth with manj^ 

 mosses. Over this rocky area are scattered numerous shallow ponds 

 with outlets flowing to the sea through narrow ravines that are scantily 

 clothed with dwarfed spruces and willows. In these sparsely wooded 

 raA'ines the Harris sparrow was common, the parent birds accom- 

 panying young just from the nest. A low, gravelly point extending 

 seaward from the hills forms the western bank of the river immedi- 

 ately at its mouth. On this point lie the ruins of old Fort Prince of 

 Wales, destroyed by the French in 1782. The bank of the river 

 immediately opposite is composed of high rocks rising abruptly from 

 the water. 



Fort Churchill (PI. X, fig. 1) is situated on the west side of the 

 tidal lagoon which comprises the lower part of Churchill River. It is 

 about 4 miles from the mouth of the river. To the south and west 

 extends a broad, level meadow, only a foot or two above high-water 

 mark, clothed with a low, shrubby growth in which appears an occa- 

 sional dwarfed spruce or tamarack (PL X, fig. 2). This meadow is a 

 favorite place for Smith longspurs and horned larks, and on its 

 drier portions we found a few burrows of lemmings {Dicrostonyx). 

 Numbers of seals (PI. X, fig. 3) of several species frequent the mouth 

 of Churchill River, attracted by the abundance of fish at that point. 



As it was very desirable to do some collecting on the Barren 

 Grounds, I left Fort Churchill on July 30 in a small sailboat, accom- 

 panied by three Indians, my brother remaining at Churchill to com- 

 plete the collection. On account of the low coast, the tide in manj^ 

 places going out from 6 to 8 miles (see PI. XI, fig. 2), traveling in a 

 smrll boat is very difiicult. We could not land except at high tide, 

 and were obliged to embark at the same stage of water. Owing to the 

 build of our boat, sailing was impossible unless the wind was fair or 

 nearly so, and rowing was very difficult. 



On the afternoon of July 31 a few hours were spent on the shore of 

 Button Bay. Here the spruce woods nearly reach the shore at one 

 point. North of the woods a bi'oad grassy plain, intersected by many 

 channels connecting small, shallow ponds, extends for several miles 

 along the shore. Over this area a great many shore birds and ducks 

 were feeding, some species accompanied by young, evidently reared 

 in the vicinity, but by far the greater number associated in large, 

 restless flocks, showing that the southward movement had commenced. 



That evening we rowed several miles along the coast and encamped 

 after dark on a small, sandy islet, just above high-water mark, where 

 Arctic terns were breeding. The next evening our camping place was 

 a sandy point near the mouth of Seal River, the position of which is 

 indicated My a conspicuous rounded mound that stands near its banks. 



