16 WOETH. AMEKICAN FAUNA. [No. 22, 



which were nesting as we passed, were excessively shy. On the lakes 

 and rivers off the main route these conditions probably do not prevail. 



Swampy Lake finds its outlet in Hill River, a rapid, winding stream, 

 containing a great many willow -covered islands, and characterized 

 during the first 30 miles of its course by numerous rapids. These 

 necessitate frequent portages, half the entire number on the route, 

 but fortunately they are all short. Each of these portages has its 

 significant name — White Mud Portage (PI. VIII, fig. 1), Mossy Port- 

 age, Seeing Portage, etc. The particular significance of the last named 

 is that from the portage thus known Brassy Hill, a notable landmark, 

 is seen for the first time on the way to the Bay (PI. VIII, fig. 2). This 

 hill, which is also responsible for the name of the river, is a remarkable 

 gravelly elevation 390 feet high and three-quarters of a mile east of the 

 river. As it is the highest point of land anj'where in the whole region 

 between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson Bay, the natives naturally regard 

 it as a veritable mountain. 



About 15 miles below the 'Hill,' Rock Portage, the last on the route, 

 is reached. Here a large flat rock divides the channel, and on each side 

 is a fall of about 5 feet. Boats and baggage are carried over the rock. 

 The Hudson's Bay Company formerlj' maintained a trading post near 

 this point, but abandoned it many years ago. Between Brassy Hill 

 and Rock Portage banks of claj' gradually make their appearance. 

 These, at first low, increase in size and in the vicinity of the Rock 

 have attained considerable height (PI. IX, fig. 1). From this point to 

 Hudson Bay the character of the country and of the river remains 

 much the same. The clayey banks continue on both sides nearly all 

 the way and vary from a few feet to two hundred in height. They 

 are marked by numerous gullies, cut by the many small streams that 

 enter the main river, and, owing to frequent landslides, are continually 

 giving way, precipitating uprooted trees into the river (PI. IX, fig. 2). 

 In manjr places they are covered with a rank growth of willows and 

 grasses, amid which are various orchids, violets, polygonums, and 

 other small plants. 



Several species of scouring-rush {Equisetum) grow abundantly in 

 the shallow water and often on the banks. Along upper Hill River 

 sweet gale {Myr'ica (jahi) is common, and at the mouth of Fox River, 

 30 miles below Rock Portage, buckthorn {Rham.us alnifoUa), honey- 

 suckle {Lonicera glaucescens), silver berry {Elseagnns argentea), small- 

 flowered viburnum {Viburnum paucifloruin), and Canadian buffalo- 

 berry (Lepargyrxa canadenftU) were collected. None iDut the last two 

 were noted farther north. Banksian pine {Pimm divaricata) and 

 canoe birch {Betida papyri/era) also find their northern limit in this 

 region near the confluence of Hill and Fox rivers; and the aspen 

 poplar {Popiilim treinidouh'H) was not noted beyond this point, though 

 it may possibly extend farther north on this route. In some places 



