196 CALIFORNIA. 



At the encamping-place was a grove of poplars of large size, some 

 of which were seventy feet high, and two and a half feet in diameter. 

 The leaf resembled that of the American aspen. At night they had 

 a slight thunder-shower. The wolves and bears had entered the 

 camp during the night, although there was a watch kept at each end 

 of it. The howling of the wolves was almost constant. 



On the 27th, the current in the Sacramento had become much 

 more rapid, and the snags more frequent ; its banks were on an 

 average about twenty feet above the water, though there was every 

 appearance on them of their having been overflowed. The prairies 

 are perfectly level, and every where overspread with dead shells of 

 the planorbis. In some places these shells appeared as though they 

 had been collected in heaps. From the top of these banks, the 

 Prairie Butes were in sight to the northward and westward. 



As they proceeded up the river, the country continued of the same 

 character, the level being only interrupted by the line of trees that 

 borders the river. These consist of oaks and sycamores. 



They encamped at a late hour, on a spot where the prairie had 

 been burnt over, and were much disturbed during the night, by the 

 bears, wolves, and owls. Near this camp was a deserted village. 



On the 29th, they for the first time met Indians, who appeared 

 quite shy, concealing themselves behind trees. As they increased in 

 numbers, however, they became more confident, and invited the party 

 to land. Towards noon the character of the country began to change, 

 and trees of a larger size than before, were seen, growing out from the 

 banks. A little after noon, they met with the remains of a fish-weir. 

 Some Indians were seen along the banks, armed with bows, arrows, 

 and lances : none but males appeared ; they, however, made no hostile 

 demonstrations. 



Game, and fur-bearing animals,_had become more numerous, and 

 among them were the lynx and fox. The latter is of the species 

 (Vulpes ceneres argentum) whose fur brings a high price in China, 

 where as much as twenty dollars is paid for a skin. This fox is said 

 to have one peculiarity, namely, that when chased it will ascend 

 trees. Bears were also in great numbers. It is reported that they 

 will sometimes attack and eat the Indians. 



Dr. Marsh thinks there is but one species, the grisly bear ; but 

 the black bear of the United States is found in New Mexico, and 

 highly prized for its skin ; though Dr. Pickering thinks he saw an- 



