Royal Physical Society. 347 



II. Contributions to the Natural History of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany's Territories. Part L — Bein-Deer. By Andrew Murray, 

 Edinburgh. 



Perhaps I may be allowed, before proceeding to the proper 

 subject of this paper, to say a few words in explanation of the 

 somewhat ambitious title I have given to it, and of how I come 

 to be in a position which entitles me, with a reasonable prospect 

 of keeping the promise thereby implied, to offer the first part 

 of " Contributions to the Natural History of Northern Ame- 

 rica." 



In the Hudson's Bay Company's charter, which was granted 

 by Charles II. in the year 1670, the preamble, or narra- 

 tive of the cause why it was granted, bears that certain indi- 

 viduals had, " at their own great cost and charges, undertaken 

 an expedition for Hudson's Bay, in the north-west part of 

 America, for the discovery of a new passage into the South 

 Sea, and for finding some trade for furs, minerals, and other 

 considerable commodities, and by such their undertaking, 

 have already made such discoveries as do encourage them to 

 proceed further in pursuance of the said design, by means 

 whereof there may probably arise very great advantage to us 

 and our kingdom ;" therefore his Majesty had resolved to grant 

 them the tracts of land therein specified, and the sole trade 

 and commerce thereof. 



This, it will be seen, was no condition that the Company 

 should do anything for science, or future expeditions, or dis- 

 coveries. Whatever was the motive which led to the charter 

 being granted, the grant itself was unfettered by any restric- 

 tion or condition relating to such matters. 



The Company, however, has always acted as if the motive 

 which may have led to the grant, viz., the merit of past 

 and the hope of future discoveries had imposed an express 

 obligation on them to do everything in their power to foster 

 researches in the dominions so conferred on them. 



The extent to which the assistance of the Company has thus 

 been given to science cannot be estimated ; but it is not too much 

 to say, that no public or private expedition was ever conducted 

 through their territories which did not draw largely upon the 



