THE SNOW-SHOE. 



465 



These instruments are of considerable size, a specimen in 

 my collection measuring exactly five feet in length, by fifteen 

 inches in width. 



Supported on the snow-shoe, the hunter is enabled to glide 

 unhurt over the deep snow in which he must have sunk without 

 some such aid. He can thus hunt the bison, the wapiti, or 

 any of the larger animals, being able to pass rapidly over the 

 surface, while they are laboriously ploughing their way through 

 the snow-drifts. 



FEET OP DUCKS. 

 FOOT OF JACANA. 

 WATER-GNAT. 



SNOW-SHOE. 

 MUD-PATTEN. 

 SKIDOR. 



It occasionally happens that the snow falls before the shoes 

 are ready. In this case the hunter is obliged to extemporise 

 snow-shoes by cutting them out of thin boards. 



Several years ago, when snow fell heavily and remained 

 unmelted for many days, some Canadians, who were visiting 

 England, made quite a sensation by donning their snow-shoes, 

 and travelling over the snow-clad country. It was very pretty 

 to see the easy way in which they could shoot down a hill, 

 and to watch the peculiar gait which is needed by the snow- 

 shoe. 



H H 



