190S.] 



MAMMALS, 



201 



the ^vbite winter pelage. AVhile ascending the Mackenzie in October 

 I saw numbers daily. At Fort Simpson the opinion was unanimous 

 that the animals had not been so abundant for many years. 



Eacli Indian, and some of the white inhabitants, maintained a line 

 of snares, popularly termed a ' rabbit track,' being a trail extending 

 for seyeral miles through a district where the animals were common, 

 with snares set close to the track at frequent intervals. A pole to 

 Avhich the noose is attached is balanced oyer a conyenient limb and 

 tii^s up when the snare is released, suspending the animal in midair 

 (PI. XXI. fig. 2). This insures a speedy death and places the quarry 

 out of reach of dogs and other predatory quadrupeds. Rabbits pref- 

 erably are caught by the neck: when suspended by the leg, as fre- 

 quently happens, their flesh is less palatable. Usually for a few days 

 previous to the actual setting of the snares, quantities of brush are 

 cut and placed in convenient spots, to attract the animals, and get 

 them into good condition. Hundreds were brought in and sold, the 

 price given in trade ])eing about the equivalent of 5 cents. They 

 freeze in the snares and are kept for weeks and months in this state 

 without 'deterioration, and figure extensively on the winter bill of 

 fare at the northern trading posts. In summer, when the animals 

 live mainly on herl)aceous plants, their flesh is very palatable, though 

 woefully lacking in nourishing qualities, but in winter, when they feed 

 largely on the foliage and bark of resinous trees, the meat acquires 

 a somewhat bitter taste. AVhen Indians are living mainly on rabbits, 

 they call it ' starving,' though they may be eating bounteously of the 

 meat every two or three hours, and it is said that if nothing else is 

 ol)tainable, they gradually grow weaker on this diet. 



Bad as a continuous diet of rabbits is, however, more deplorable 

 still is the condition that ensues when these animals are scarce. Their 

 periodical failure is anticipated by the Indians with grave forebod- 

 ings. Disinclined to exert themselves to provide for the future, cruel 

 famine is their lot when the short cold days of winter are upon them 

 and the snares yield only a meager supply. 



The principal use made by the Indians of the skin of this animal 

 is in the manufacture of robes. For this purpose the skins are cut 

 into strips, which are twisted, and woven on a frame into a robe of 

 the desired size. The mesh is very coarse, and the fingers may be 

 thrust through the finished robe at any point. The loose, soft fur, 

 however, resists the action of the wind, and on account of their light- 

 ness and warmth these robes are considered second only to those made 

 of caribou skins, and are preferred by some. To obviate the unpleas- 

 ant consequences of the shedding of the fur, they are usually inclosed 

 in a cotton case. Capotes, shirts, and mittens made in the same way 

 were formerly in common use, and are still made by some of the 

 remote tribes. 



