Expedition, tfc. 121 



and sometimes, though rarely, perpendicular, and rising 

 scarcely more than four feet from the common level of the 

 bottom of the channel. Driftwood is occasionally seen with- 

 out these banks, at an elevation of a few feet above them, af- 

 fording evidence that they are, at times, not only full bxit 

 overflowed. Whenever they are but partially filled it is easy 

 to see that, what for a great part of the year is a naked sand- 

 beach, then becomes a broad and majestic river. It must 

 flow with a rapid current, and, in floods, its waters cannot 

 be otherwise than of an intense red colour. The immediate 

 valley of the river had now become little less than two miles 

 in width, and had, in some places, a fertile soil. This hap- 

 pens wherever places occur having little elevation above the 

 bed of the river, and which have not recently been covered 

 with drifted sand. 



Several species of locust were extremely frequent here, 

 filling the air by day with their shrill and deafening cries, 

 and feeding with their bodies great numbers of that beauti- 

 ful species of hawk, the Falco Mississippiensis of Wilson. It 

 afforded us a constant amusement to watch the motions of 

 this greedy devourer, in the pursuit of the locust his favorite 

 prey. The insect being large and not very active is easily 

 taken; the hawk then poises on the wing, suspending him- 

 self in the air, while with his talons and beak he tears in 

 pieces and devours his prey. 



Prairie wolves, and vultures, occurred in unusual num- 

 bers, and the carcasses of several bisons, recently killed, had 

 been seen. We could also distinguish the recent marks of 

 a hunting party of Indians, the tracks of horses and men 

 being still fresh in the sand. At four P, M. several bi- 

 sons were discovered at a distance, and, as we were in 

 the greatest want of provisions, we halted and sent the 

 hunters in pursuit, and, being soon apprised of their suc- 

 cess, the requisite preparations were made for jerking the 

 meat. Near our camp was a scattering grove of small- 



VOL. II. 1(5 



