7990 



Quadrupeds. 



hoping, at some future period, to have the pleasure of noticing the 

 others. 



In the manufactures of the Indians no articles hold a more important 

 or more conspicuous position than those drawn from animals ; but 

 this must naturally be expected in a people who subsist almost solely 

 on the products of the chase. The climate of these regions, moreover, 

 in a manner prohibits agriculture, even were the natives willing to turn 

 their attention to such pursuits, which they are not. 



I shall pass briefly in review all the species of animals from which 

 they derive any material, noting with each the various purposes to 

 which it is applied. 



Foxes. The various species of foxes found in this district are the 

 red, cross, silver, white and blue. The latter is not, as some writers 

 affirm, the young of the white, nor is it that animal in its summer garb, 

 though it is closely allied to it. The only article furnished by these 

 animals is a fine sinew thread for bead-work, and is taken from the 

 tail. 



Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Grizzly Bear (U. horribilis) and 

 Barren-ground Bear (U. arclos). The black bear is found throughout 

 the wooded portions of the districts, but is replaced on the barren 

 grounds by a species bearing a strong resemblance to the U. arctos of 

 Europe. The grizzly bear dwells among the Rocky Mountains. 

 From the black, and indeed from all, the natives derive food ; they 

 also cut the summer hides into cords. The prepared fat is extensively 

 used as a pomatum, but I cannot coincide with those who state bear's 

 grease to be a good hair renovator ; on the contrary, it will in all like- 

 lihood, if used pure, cause the hairs to split and fall out. Grizzly and 

 barren-ground bears' claws are much prized for necklaces and coro- 

 nets by the Indians. 



Marmots. There are three, if not four, species of this animal in the 

 Mackenzie's River District, viz., Arctomys pruinosus (inhabiting the 

 northern Rocky Mountains and Nehaunay Hills), A. Kennicottii 

 (dwelling in the same localities, with a more northern range, and ex- 

 tending eastward to the Anderson River), and A. monax (coming as 

 far north, though rare, as the Liard's River). Out of all these the 

 mountain tribes make robes, and the flesh is counted sweet and fat. As 

 I do not think that the marmot, which I have named A. Kennicottii 

 (after my friend the enterprising naturalist Mr. Robert Kennicott), has 

 been yet described, I shall here insert a brief note concerning it. It 

 is in size as large as a small musk rat, and in colour a silvery gray, 

 interspersed with orange hairs on the back, but changing on the flanks 



