SCARCITY OF ANIMAL LIFE. 



55 



from the south-west. About half-past 3 thunder was 

 heard in the distance, and at 4, scud from the south-east 

 began to traverse the sky. At 5 p. M. the clouds in the 

 south-west presented a very magnificent spectacle ; they 

 seemed like gigantic waves setting towards the north 

 east. This wave-like appearance occurred in different 

 parts of the heavens, and almost every variety of cloud 

 passed in review. A few minutes before 5 p.m. a very 

 long and vivid flash of lightning shot across the sky in a 

 direction from south to north, succeeded by a distinct 

 snap like that produced by an electrifying machine. 

 About ten seconds afterwards the loud rolling thunder re- 

 corded the flash, and at 5 p. M. the rain commenced ; the 

 lightning was intensely vivid, and the thunder unusually 

 loud.* 



The scarcity of animal life at this season of the year 

 on the canoe route has several times been remarked by 

 travelers. It is probable that the noise inseparable from 

 the passage of several canoes through the lakes and rivers 

 would drive away the game into the interior, but their tracks 

 would be seen if they existed in large numbers. On the Ka- 

 ministiquia the following animals or their fresh tracks were 

 seen : Of quadrupeds : Cariboos, bears, foxes, hares, minks, 

 otters, squirrels, muskrats, and neldmice. Of birds : eagles, 

 hawks, ducks, pigeons, plover (two varieties), sandpipers, 

 cherry birds, loons, partridges (two varieties), jays, magpies, 

 blackcaps, nighthawks, Canadian nightingales, swallows, 

 humming birds, kingfishers, and owls. There were shot 

 by different members of the expedition, the ruffled grouse 

 or hardwood partridge, spruce or cedar partridge, pigeons, 

 plover (two varieties), squirrels, and one jay. Of fish we 



* A thunder storm occurred at Toronto this day from 8.30 to 11.30 p.m. 

 See remarks in the Toronto Meteorological Register for August. Canadian 

 Journal, November 1857. 



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