INTRODUCTION. Xx, 
and Missouri Rivers. They gradually become narrower to the north- 
ward, and in the southern part of the fur countries they occupy about 
fifteen degrees of longitude, extending from Maneetobaw or Maneeto- 
woopoo, and Winepegoos Lakes to the foot’ of the Rocky Mountains. 
They are partially intersected by some low ridges of hills, and also by 
several streams, the banks of which are wooded, and towards the 
outskirts of the plain there are many detached clumps of wood and 
picturesque pieces of water, disposed in so pleasing a manner as to 
give the country the appearance of a highly cultivated English park. 
In the central parts of the plains, however, there is so little wood that 
the hunters are under the necessity of taking fuel with them on their 
journeys, or in dry weather of making their fires of the dung of the 
bison. To the northward of the Saskatchewan, the country is more 
broken, and intersected by woody hills; and on the banks of the Peace 
River, the plains are of comparatively small extent, and are detached 
from each other by woody tracts; they terminate altogether in the 
angle between the River of the Mountains and Great Slave Lake. 
The abundance of pasture renders these plains the favourite resort of 
various ruminating animals. They are frequented throughout their 
whole extent by buffalo and wapiti. The prong-horned antilope is 
common on the Assinaboyn or Red River, and south branch of the 
Saskatchewan, and extends its range in the summer to the north 
branch of the latter river. *The black-tailed deer, the long-tailed deer, 
and the grisly bear, are also inhabitants of the plains, but do not 
wander further to the eastward. 
The following list will shew the peculiarity of the group of ferine 
animals which frequent the district :— 
Ursus ferox. 
Canis latrans. 
»» (Vulpes) cinereo-argentatus. 
Arctomys (Spermophilus ?) Ludovicianus. 
Richardsonii. 
Franklinii. 
Hoodii. 
PP) bP) 
