1908.] 



EXPEDITION . OF 1903-1904. 



18 



on August 29, two days ahead of the transport, having obtained many 

 interesting specimens on the way. Being obliged to wait for our 

 baggage, we utilized the time collecting in the vicinity. Leaving 

 Athabaska Landing with our baggage and specimens on September 

 1, we reached Edmonton on the afternoon of September 4, shipped 

 our collections, and as soon as practicable left for Washington, where 

 we arrived on September 15. 



CONTINUATION OF INVESTIGATIONS DURING 1903 AND 1904. 



In the spring of 1903, the results of our Avork in 1901 having heen 

 elaborated but not published, I was sent to complete our work in the 

 Mackenzie region. This w^as especially desirable, since on the previ- 

 ous trip we had penetrated only as far as Great Slave Lake. On the 

 second trip, in addition to my brother, I was accompanied by Merritt 

 Gary, an assistant in the Biological Surve}^. We left Washington 

 May 2, Edmonton May 11, and Athabaska Landing May 16. Collect- 

 ing when opportunity afforded, but not stopping to do any detailed 

 work, we reached Fort Ghipewyan June 2 and Fort Resolution June 

 19. Here the party was divided, my brother and Gary proceeding to 

 the Mackenzie and working there until obliged to start back with the 

 southward trip of the boats, while I made a trip northward through 

 almost unknown country to the eastern part of Great Bear Lake. 



My companions left on June 26, reaching Hay River the following 

 day and remaining there until July 1. Thence they proceeded to 

 Fort Providence, situated on the Mackenzie a few miles below the out- 

 let of the lake, and there remained until July 8. Descending the 

 Mackenzie past Fort Simpson, at the mouth of the Liard, they made 

 their next stop at the mouth of Nahanni River, about 75 miles below 

 the latter place. Here they spent several days, ascending a near-by 

 mountain and obtaining man}^ interesting and valuable specimens. 

 They left this place July 19 and voyaged down the river to Fort 

 Wrigley, where they remained until July 22, when the steamer Wrig- 

 ley arrived on her upward trip, and they were obliged to start on their 

 return. Their journey to Athabaska Landing, where they arrived on 

 September 2, was made by the same conveyances utilized on our pre- 

 vious trip. Many interesting specimens and records were obtained 

 during their return trip, especially along the Athabaska. The time 

 from September 2 to 15 was spent on the river above Athabaska Land- 

 ing, and good series of the smaller mammals and many desirable birds 

 were obtained. 



In the meantime I had crossed Great Slave Lake to Fort Rae, 

 accompanied by James MacKinlay, formerly of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, and engaging two Fort Rae Indians as guides and canoe- 

 men, had started northward for Great Bear Lake, following a chain of 

 lakes and rivers by way of Lake St. Croix. It had been my intention 



