to the bottom of what was then all water, and brought up some earth which was moulded into consistency by the Beaver. The Loucheux entertain the same tradition in a slightly modified form. Chipewyans have ideas of a good and evil principle, but their ador tion if it may be so called is paid to the latter, and consists of rude gesticulations, singing, and conjurations for the benefit of the sick, and called Nitch or Medicine. Their places of interment are rude cages or câches of logs placed on the surface of the ground, in which the body is deposited, wrapped in a blanket or moose skin, while the relatives destroy their property and cut their hair in sign of mourning. Their songs are unmusical and generally accompanied by drumming on a kind of tambourine, forming the usual Orchestra for their dances. The latter consist of ungainly leapings in a circle, commonly around the small fire used. to light their pipes, and in them women are permitted to join. Moose-nose and hearts of animals, as well as the heads, are not allowed to be eaten by women or dogs, from a superstition that if such occurred the hunters would lose their skill. Among the Slaves of the valley of McKenzie, rabbits are the principal food. When these fail suddenly as they generally do, the natives fancy that they mount by the trees into heaven, and when they reappear, that they return by the same path. The moral character as well as the worldly condition of these tribes has been much improved by the mild and impartial sway of the Hudson's Bay Company. Polygamy as well as incest, is now of very rare occurrence. testine wars and murders are unknown, while infanticide, formerly so prevalent, has become almost a tradition. One point of their customs which I have overlooked, may here be mentioned. Their manner of personal combat is to catch each other by their long hair, and twist about until one falls down. Although this is in general a most harmless way of settling a dispute, in-tances have occurred of dislocation of the neck in the affray. Quarrels arise commonly about women, and the fair one becomes the prize of the conqueror.

In

A Protestant Mission of the church of England pursuasion is about to be established by the Church Missionary Society at Fort Simpson on the McKenzie River, for the Slave communities, which will doubtless improve in a high degree the religious notions and moral character of this interesting and inoffensive people.

The other tribes inhabiting the McKenzie River district are 1st the Siccanees; 2nd. the Nahannies or Mountain Indians; 3rd. the Loucheux or Kutchin; 4th. the Esquimaux.

1st. The Siccanees are a tolerably numerous tribe. In this district they resort to Forts Liards and Selkirk for purposes of trade and inhabit the country between the Liards and the head waters of Peace River among the Rocky Mountains entering into New Caledonia. If they speak Chipewyan, their dialect is a very corrupt one. In disposition they resemble the Beaver Indians, and they are generally of good stature.

2nd. The Nahannies live to the northward of the Siccanees, about the head waters of the Liards Rivers, Francis Lake and the Pelly River and westward across the mountains to the Pacific In appearance they resemble the Slaves.

3rd. The Loucheux are an exceedingly numerous and powerful people, if the various tribes of them inhabiting Russian America be taken into consideration. They occupy the northern waters of the McKenzie from below Fort Good Hope and Point Separation, where they meet the Esquimaux, as well as Peels River. They are found across the Rocky Mountains on the Rat River, on the Youcan or Kutchpark, and on the lower Pelly, in fact they people the greater part of the interior of Russian America.

In appearance they are bolder featured than the Slaves, as well as of larger stature. Their disposition is blood-thirsty, and independant, resembling a good deal that of the plain tribes. In the treatment of women they are harsh, and female infanticide is is not uncommon among them. Polygamy is prevalent as well as divorce for trifling misunderstandings. The Peels River Loucheux put their dead on scaffolds, those of the westward burn them, and much property is destroyed upon the death of a chief. A strong belief in the powers of Medicine men is universal among the Youcan tribes, no Indian dies by natural death, but he is killed by the conjuration of another at some distance, and this superstition is the cause of much bloodshed among them. The Peels River branch is at war with the Esquimaux. They were formerly a very numerous people, but war and disease have sadly reduced them. Several treaties have been patched up between these hostile nations by the Hudson's Bay Company, but only to be broken, and the avenging of fresh murders keeps up an unbroken line of deadly fueds. Having had a trading intercourse for several years with the Company's Post at Peels River, these people have become milder and much more tractable than their unsophisticated brethren on the Youcan.

The dress of the Loucheux or Kutchins is a peculiar one, it

consists of a tunic or shirt of leather coming to a point in the skirt both behind and before, ornamented with quills, fringes and beads. The trousers and shoes are of one piece, and are also garnished. Men and women are clad in like fashion in trousers.

4th. The Esquimaux as far as we know of them are very numerous. At the points with which we are acquainted, their coast line extends inland to below Point Separation on the McKenzie, the Bloody Fall on the Copper-mine River, and the confluence of the Great fish with the McInlay Rivers. They are a more powerful, braver and energetic race than the Indians. Their complexion in truth is fair, and some of their women are reported as absolutely beautiful.

ARTICLE VI.-On the Natural History of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the distribution of the Mollusca of Eastern Canada. By ROBERT BELL, jr.

Having been employed by Sir W. E. Logan to assist Mr. Richardson in his geological explorations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the summer of 1858, and at the same time to collect as many specimens as possible, to illustrate the natural history of that part of the Province,* the following lists, prepared by his directions, contain a brief summary of my observations, together with numerous facts regarding the distribution of the Mollusca in other parts of the country.

The district explored is that part of the Province below Quebec which is bounded on the north-west by the St. Lawrence, east by the Gulf, and south-east by the Bay of Chaleurs and Ristigouche River, and is chiefly comprised in the counties of Rimouski, Gaspé, and Bonaventure. By referring to a map of the Province the localities mentioned in this article will be readily found, the greater number of them being situated on the south-east side of the St. Lawrence, between Quebec and Gaspé. In these lists I give the names of all the localities at which each species was found when not generally diffused, from which some inferences may be drawn in regard to their geographical distribution; and I must here acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. D'Urban of the

During the summer of 1857, I accompanied the same party on an expedition to the Gulf, and some observations which I then made on the natural history of the country through which we passed are published in the Report of Progress for that year.

Geological Survey, who most kindly furnished me with a list o the Birds, and drew up the accompanying Catalogues of Coleop tera, Lepidoptera, and Plants.

VERTEBRATA.

MAMMALIA.

Vespertilio subulatus (Say's Bat).-Numerous in the vallies of the Ristigouche and Matapedia Rivers. I killed one of them with my fishing rod, which in its eagerness to take the bait from my hook, did not cease to fly after it, till it met with its death.

Sorex Forsteri (Forster's Shrew Mouse).--Procured two specimens; said by the Indians to be very abundant.

Ursus Americanus (The Black Bear).-Not uncommon; there are two varieties in the district, one all black, and the other, which is said to be more ferocious, black with a white spot on the breast. The fur of the Gaspé bears is of a highly superior quality.

Mustela martes (The Pine Martin).-The Indians bring home from their winter hunts, more of the skins of these animals than of any other.

M. vison (The Mink).-Ranks next to the marten in its importance to the Indian hunter.

M. vulgaris (The Common Weasel).—Abundant.

M. Canadensis (The Fisher).—Does not seem to be very abundant, but the Indians always bring to market a few of their skins when they return from their hunts.

Mephitis Americana (The Skunk).-Not uncommon, and sometimes killed by hunters for its skin, which is used for making sleigh robes.

Lutra Canadensis (The Canada Otter).-Very abundant along every stream. One of our Indians told me that he once secured three otters of large size, with one shot. He said, that after watching for them some time, they all came up together through a hole in the ice, when he aimed at the middle one and killed it on the spot, only a few grains of shot striking the other two, who immediately set on one another, as though mutually supposing each other to be the cause of their pain, and during the combat he dispatched them both with his tomahawk.

Canis lupus (The Common Wolf.-I was informed by the Indians that the wolf does not come farther north than the St. John River, where they are sometimes seen in small packs, and destroy the young moose.

C. fulvus (The American Fox).--Three varieties of the fox, the black, silver grey and yellow, exist thoughout the district. Lynx Canadensis (The Loup-cervier or Canada Lynx) Abundant, and much sought after by the hunters.

Phoca? (Seal).-A seal generally of a mottled grey colour, ascends the St. Lawrence beyond Cacouna. Farther down the river, we sometimes saw, during summer, quite a number of them swimming together.

Castor fiber (The Beaver).-Formerly when the fur of the beaver brought such a high price, they were very much hunted in this part of the country, but since it has fallen to less than quarter of what it was, the Indians do not kill them, except when an opportunity of shooting one accidentally falls in their way, and they consequently now re-occupy, often in great numbers, the places which they had long deserted.

Fiber zibethicus (The Musk-Rat.)-This animal, so abundant in all other parts of Canada, is likewise so, in the lakes and quiet streams of our present district.

Mus musculus (The Common Mouse)-Infests barns in the summer time.

Pteromys volucella (The Common Flying-Squirrel)-Rare. Sciurus (Tamias) Lysteri (The Chip-munk).-Rare also. S. Hudsonius (The Red Squirrel).-Abundant throughout the whole district.

Hystrix pilosus (dorsata) (The Canada Porcupine)—Appears to be much more abundant in the north-eastern part of the district (Gaspé) than in the counties of Rimouski, or Bonaventure. They become light grey or almost white when very old, but are said to be the same colour all the year round.

Lepus Americanus (The American Hare).-Notwithstanding its numerous enemies, is probably the most abundant quadruped in the wo ds.

Cervus alces (The Moose Deer or Elk).-For the last few years most of the hunters bave devoted their time to killing the moose simply for the sake of their skins, which now command a higher price than formerly, and this they do at any season of the year which suits their own convenience. We were informed, that a party of these hunters hai procured 300 skins the previous winter, and that another party of only three Indians had killed during the same season between 90 and 100 on one expedition, as many as six sometimes falling a prey to them in one day, yet still these noble animals roam in vast numbers over the district.