12 



NORTH AMEEICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



was shipped, as the rapids which begin about 155 miles below can not 

 be run by a heavily loaded canoe. 



Being delayed somewhat by stormy weather, and by portaging at 

 the Grand Eapid, we reached Fort McMurray on May 14, and the 

 mouth of the Athabaska three days later. Athabaska Lake to the 

 eastward of the delta and the portion between the mouth of the 

 Athabaska and Fort Chipewyan had been open only a few days, and 

 was still full of floating ice, which under the influence of the strong 

 current was hurrying toward the outlet. The traverse among the 

 grinding floes to Fort Chipewyan was made during the night of May 

 IT. Here we remained until June 5, moving camp twice in order to 

 work the different kinds of ground in the vicinity. On June 5 we 

 started down Rocher River, and entering Slave River, as the stream 

 is called after uniting with the Peace, descended it to Smith Landing, 

 stopping for a few days at several favorable points. We left Smith 

 Landing June 18, and crossing the 16-mile portage to Fort Smith, 

 spent ten days investigating the fauna in that vicinity. 



Leaving Fort Smith on June 29, we descended Slave River to 

 Great Slave Lake, collecting a little on the way, and reached Fort 

 Resolution on July 4. Here we worked in company until July 9, 

 when I left my brother to examine the place more thoroughly, and 

 crossed to Fort Rae, making collections on the way, and arriving July 

 18. The next ten days I spent in the vicinity of Fort Rae, securing 

 a good representative series of the small mammals and many inter- 

 esting birds. 



On J uly 29 the steamer W rigley, returning from the mouth of the 

 Mackenzie, reached Fort Rae. The next day at daylight I went 

 aboard and arrived at Fort Resolution the following morning, where 

 I was joined by my brother. With our united collections we left Fort 

 Resolution on the afternoon of August 1, when the Wrigley resumed 

 her journey, and steaming continuously, except when a stop was made 

 to ' wood up,' reached Fort Smith on August 3. On August 5 we 

 crossed Smith Portage to Smith Landing, where the Hudson's Bay 

 Company's steamer Grahame^ which plies between that point and 

 Fort McMurray, lay moored to the bank. A stop of a day at Smith 

 Landing was improved by adding to our collection. Leaving on the 

 afternoon of August 6, we reached Fort Chipewyan on the evening 

 of the next day, and Fort McMurray on the evening of August 10. 



We left Fort McMurray on August 12 on one of the company's 

 scows, by means of which the furs are transported to Athabaska 

 Landing by tracking, and traveled slowly up the Athabaska, collect- 

 ing when possible, and reaching Grand Rapid on August 20. Here, 

 the rapids being passed, we obtained a canoe in order to have a better 

 opportunity to collect than was afforded when traveling on scows. 

 The weather was very favorable, and we reached Athabaska Landing 



