Quadrupeds. 



7991 



into a decided yellow, palest on the belly ; the tail is short. It has 

 cheek pouches, and is decidedly smaller than A. monax. In habits, 

 so far as is known, it assimilates closely to the other marmots. It is a 

 social animal, and digs its den on the mountain's side, or in the banks 

 of rivers. When these animals are outside, a sentinel is placed at a short 

 distance from their habitations, where it sits on its hams, and will, when 

 surprised, lower itself, uttering a peculiar cry or whistle ; that, when 

 twice repeated, causes all the party to seek for shelter in their holes. 

 They lay up stores of winter provender. Very far north there is a 

 variety which is perfectly black, instead of hoary and yellow. The 

 robes made from the skins of this species smell very badly. 



Beaver (Castor canadensis). The beaver exists some distance 

 within the arctic circle, and the darkest coloured pelts that I have 

 seen are from Fort Good Hope. The Slave and Dog-rib tribes make 

 capotes and robes out of the skin, and the castoreum is extensively 

 used in the manufacture of a medicine or perfume for enticing the 

 lynx to enter into the snaring cabins. The flesh and tail are among 

 the most prized dainties of Indian epicures. 



Porcupines. These animals are scattered all over the district, prin- 

 cipally in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountain ranges, but I do not 

 think that they are often found around the shores of Great Slave Lake. 

 The flesh is considered a great treat, and the quills furnish the materials 

 for embroidering the only really tasteful articles to be found among 

 the natives of these regions. The Slave Indians, dwelling along the 

 Mackenzie and Liard's Rivers, are reckoned the most skilful fabri- 

 cators of this manufacture. The things made out of them consist of 

 bells, bands, garters, bracelets ; and they are also used for ornamenting 

 bark-work, dresses and shoes. In manufacturing belts, &c, a frame- 

 work of sinew-thread is first laid, through which the quilts are inter- 

 woven in squares, something in the manner of Berlin wool work. The 

 articles when finished are very pretty, and some of the women are 

 sufficiently adepts to follow any angular pattern which may be set 

 them. The dyes used are procured principally from the vegetable 

 kingdom, though the natives residing in the vicinity of the Forts often 

 apply to the wives of our servants to tint the quills with imported dye- 

 stuffs. 



Rabbit (Lepus americanus). This animal, so essential to the wel- 

 fare of the Chipewyan nation, is spread all over the district, except 

 upon the barren grounds. It is subject to periodical failures, which 

 occur with great regularity, and which cause no small amount of pri- 

 , vation and suffering to the Indians when they happen. When the 



