Ex. Doc. No. 41. 397 



sent to shoot some of them, but his gun had got so wet during the 

 day it would not fire. 



We noticed to-day the pink sensitive plant (schrankia uncinata) 

 of most delicious fragrance, so that my hat, into which I had 

 thrust some specimens, was pleasantly perfumed. With this plant, 

 we also found a white variety, (darlingtonia brachypoda,) the 

 flowers and leaves are smaller than the plant first mentioned, and 

 has no odor. 



Late in the evening several of the volunteer companies came 

 up; they Said they were suffering for want of provisions; as the 

 commissary waggons had got on too far in advance, they sent for- 

 ward to have some of them return. But we were all suffering 

 from a cause that produced in some of us feelings more unpleasant 

 than hunger; the blowfly had peopled our blankets with living 

 masses of corruption; it is said that these insects were never before 

 seen so far out in the prairies. 



Friday, 10th. — It is still raining, the clouds are chasing each 

 other rapidly across the sky, and now and then the rain pours 

 heavily down. We remained in camp some time waiting for the 

 rain to stop. We thus lost several hours, but we found travelling 

 in the prairies rather increased the chafing of our animals. We 

 noticed to-day some swallows, (hirundo bicolor,) also the turtle 

 dove, the little quail, the blue jay, (garulus cristatus,) and the 

 king fisher (alcedo alcyon.)' 



We collected some lamb's quarter and had it cooked, and no- 

 ticed along the road side the purslane, (portulaca oleracea;) this 

 also would answer for the table of the prairie voyageur. Our 

 day's journey was 16 miles. 



Saturday 11th. — We were up this morning at 3^ o'clock, and 

 ready for the start. Our arrangement of mosquito bars was 

 broken in upon last night by a heavy shower of rain that forced us 

 to retreat to our tents. 



After marching three miles, we reached Cow creek; it was very 

 difficult to cross on account of the miry bottom, but we got safely 

 over without great delay. Before we had proceeded far, we 

 caught sight of the "plum buttes," bearing N. 20° W. We passed 

 through a large village of prairie dogs, (Arctomys Ludoviciana;) 

 although nov deserted, there were fresh signs of the dogs having 

 thrown out some earth from their excavations. Last night's rain 

 had, doubtless, forced them to leave their houses. In the ponds 

 that had settled on the plain, we saw several craw fish, and the 

 crickets were gathered around some ant hills. As our wagons 

 moved along the road, the lizards (lacerta lineatus) were darting 

 rapidly along the ruts in front of it, anxious to escape being 

 crushed. The common land turtle (testudo clausa) were also very 

 abundant. As we got quite near the Plum buttes, we caught sight 

 of the buffaloes, (bos americanus,) and some five or six of our 

 party immediately gave chase. The buffaloes ran around in a 

 circle of three-fourths of a mile in diameter; so those who were 

 near the centre of this circle had an excellent view of the chase,, 

 Holster pistols were the only arms used, and we soon had the plea- 



