90 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



other only in colour, being of the same shape and size. Their shades 

 of colour are not disposed in any determinate manner, some indi- 

 viduals approaching in that respect very nearly to the silver fox, 

 others exhibiting every link of the chain down to a nearly uniform 

 deep or orange-yellow, the distinguishing colour of a pure red fox. 

 It is reported both by Indians and traders, that all the varieties 

 have been found in the same litter. The blue fox is seldom seen 

 here, and is supposed to come from the southward. The gray wolf 

 (mahaygan,) is common here. In the month of March the females 

 frequently entice the domestic dog from the forts, although at other 

 seasons a strong antipathy seemed to subsist between them. Some 

 black wolves are occasionally seen. The black and red varieties of 

 the American bear ( musquah) are also found near Cumberland 

 House, though not frequently ; a black bear often has red cubs, and 

 vice versa. The grizzly bear, so much dreaded by the Indians for its 

 strength and ferocity, inhabits a tract of country nearer the Kocky 

 Mountains. It is extraordinary that although I made inquiries ex- 

 tensively amongst the Indians, I met with but one who said that he 

 had killed a she-bear with young in the womb. 



The wolverene, in cree okeekoohawgees, or ommeethatsees, is an 

 animal of great strength and cunning, and is much hated by the 

 hunters, on account of the mischief it does to their marten-traps. The 

 Canadian lynx ( peesheic) is a timid but well-armed animal, which preys 

 upon the American hare. Its fur is esteemed. The marten (wapeestan,) 

 is one of the most common furred animals in the country. The 

 fisher, notwithstanding its name, is an inhabitant of the land, living 

 like the common marten principally on mice. It is the otchcek of 

 the Crees, and the pekan of the Canadians. The mink, (atjackash j 

 has been often confounded by writers with the fisher. It is a much 

 smaller animal, inhabits the banks of rivers, and swims well ; its prey 

 is fish. The otter, ( neekeek,) is larger than the English species, 

 and produces a much more valuable fur. 



