I'JUS.J 



PREVIOUS EXPLOEATIONS OGILVIE. 



77 



attempt. He then descended the Peace to DunA'egan, and U4[ the 

 jcountiy by way of Lesser Shive Lake and Edmonton. Ilis narrative 

 of the explorations is replete with notes on natiir:il liistory. 



In the smnmer of 1891 William Ogilvie, of the Canadian Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, made an exploring trip through the region 

 between the Liard and Peace rivers. He started from Athabaska 

 Landing on July 14 and descended the rivers to Fort Simpson. 

 Leaving here on August 28, he ascended the Liard and the Nelson 

 to a point on Sicannie Chief River, where canoe navigation became 

 impracticable, and then pursued a southerly course on foot to Fort 

 St. John, on Peace River, Avhere he arrived on October 21. From 

 here he descended the Peace to Peace River Landing, and proceeded 

 overland to Lesser Slave Lake and Edmonton. In his narrative of 

 the trip, published a year or two later, he gives a great deal of infor- 

 mation regarding the natural resources of the country, including 

 many notes on its fauna, the most important relating to the wood 

 bison and the musk-ox. 



In 1892 ffiss Elizabeth Tajdor made a summer trip by means of 

 the regular conveyances of the Hudson's Bay Compau}^ on the Atha- 

 baska, Slave, and Mackenzie rivers to Fort McPherson and return. 

 Being interested in natural history, she made collections of birds, 

 mammals, fishes, insects, and plants. These collections, though not 

 extensive, have already formed the basis of at least two papers — 

 on the fishes and the Lepidoptera. A few of the birds which found 

 their way into the collection of the United States National Museum 

 are recorded in the present report. 



In the summer of 1892 J. B. Tyrrell, of the Canadian Geological 

 Survey, assisted by D. B. Dowling, explored a portion of the shore 

 of Athabaska Lake and a large extent of country hdng between that 

 lake and Churchill River. His report contains many notes on the 

 fauna of the region. 



In the summer of 1893 J. B. Tja^rell, accompanied by his brother, 

 J. W. Tyrrell, made a journey through the Athabaska- region for the 

 purpose of geographical and geological research. Leaving Athabaska 

 Landing May 31, they descended the Athabaska to Fort Chipewyan. 

 From this point they followed the north shore of Athabaska Lake 

 eastward to its extremity, and then traveled by a series of rivers 

 and lakes hitherto unexplored northeastward to the head of Chester- 

 field Inlet. This Avas traversed to Hudson Bay, and thence the coast 

 of the bay was folloAved to Fort Churchill, the lateness of the season 

 causing much hardship. From Fort Churchill the party traveled on 

 the snow, by way of York Factory and Norway House, to Winnipeg. 

 The official report, by J. B. Tyrrell, comprises a very full geological 

 and general description of the region, and many notes on its fa ana 

 and flora, while a popular account of the journey, by J. AV. Tyrrell, 



