124 Field and Forest Rambles. 



and long stiff bristles about the mouth become grey from their 

 tips, and not from the roots, as if cold was the cause of the 

 change, or some agency acting from without ; and this is most 

 probably the case ; moreover, there can be no question as to 

 the influence of low temperature in stimulating the new 

 growth. There is, moreover, a seemingly strong disposition 

 for the lower parts of animals to become white in winter, i.e, 

 the parts in closest contact with the snow ; thus, the under 

 surfaces of the deer tribe are always whitest. And as if from 

 its habit of constantly digging among the snow with its 

 snout in quest of food, we find the cariboo with a white 

 patch on its lips and around the hoof; indeed the same may 

 be observed in domesticated animals, especially on their 

 bellies and snouts. This has been frequently pointed out to 

 me on the bellies and elsewhere in horses, who did not show 

 any appearance of grey on their lower parts in summer.* 



I was frequently much struck in observing how rapidly 

 imported animals, such as short-haired hounds, attain a long 

 thick fur; indeed the brown rat, European mouse, sheep, cattle, 

 pigs, etc., become changed in their outward appearance in 

 winter from this very cause; so much so that the two first- 

 named look then much bulkier than their old-world compeers.f 



* It is supposed that Europeans become grey more rapidly in these 

 cold regions than in England, and that the beauty of the Canadian 

 ladies soon fades. As to the former, it seems that the extremes of cold 

 and heat do exert some influence ; at all events, I have observed that the 

 venerable tint proceeds more rapidly, i.e. men get sooner grey than they 

 would in central or southern Europe. But I acknowledge this may be. 

 more apparent than real, — just as it is said the fair sex lose their teeth 

 early from eating too many sweets. No doubt the very cold winters and 

 gushing summers are trying to the fair complexion of the Anglo-Saxon 

 female, more especially should there be much direct exposure to alterna- 

 tions of high and lowtemperatures, which may influence the colouring of the 

 hair quicker than a continuous residence in a torrid or temperate climate. 



+ I don't think the European brown rat and mouse flourish in the in- 

 terior of Canada, although abundant enough in the seaport towns. The 

 intense cold of many inland cities tries them ; and, as I have shown else- 

 where, the mouse cannot long withstand a very low temperature, such as 

 the native hare, squirrel, and the like would endure with impunity. 



