Natural History of the Hudson's Bay Territories, 21 
it. The whiteness of its colour also is so pure that it is most 
difficult to discern it on the snow. Sir John Richardson notices 
that in one of the boat voyages in which he took part along 
with Franklin, they landed on a rocky islet off Cape Parry, 
which, although not above 300 yards in diameter, was ten- 
anted by a solitary Alpine hare. The whole party went in 
pursuit of this poor animal ; but it availed itself so skilfully 
of the shelter of the rocks, and retreated with so much cun- 
ning and activity from stone to stone, that none of them could 
obtain a shot at it, although it never was able to conceal itself 
from their search for more than a minute or tivo at a time. 
Its flesh is said to be better eating than either the Ameri- 
can or European hare. 
Quebec Marmot {Arctomys empetra, Schreb.) — This ani- 
mal, although recorded as being found in the Hudson Bay 
Company's territories, would appear to be confined to their 
southern parts. I have received none from my northern cor- 
respondents, but only from Canada, where it would appear not 
to be rare. 
Musk Eat (Fiber zihethicus, Cuv.) — This is a very com-^ 
mon species in the Hudson Bay Company's territories, and 
supplies a large portion of the furs sent to this country. Its 
skin is used as medicine or medicine-bags by the natives, in 
which state the specimens sent to me have arrived. 
Beaver (Castor Americanus, Brandt). — Considering the 
immense number of animals both of this, and more especially 
of the preceding species, which have for a long series of years 
been taken for the purpose of supplying the wants of civi- 
lized Europe, we might have expected that specimens would 
be by no means rare in our museums. The contrary is the 
case, however, so much so that when my friend Dr J. A. 
Smith a year or two ago wished to compare the semi-fossil 
bones of a beaver found in a superficial deposit in Scotland 
with the recent skeleton of a beaver, the comparison could not 
be made in Scotland from want of a specimen of the re- 
cent animal in any of the museums in that country. I 
