(( Friday the 27th. My last guide went out at midnight in "search of trout, and brought me home a small one, which served "for breakfast. Two hours before daylight he rushed in with

great marks of terror uttering a shriek which made me spring "to my feet, as I concluded that my enemies of yesterday had "tracked out my retreat. He, however, gave me to understand, "by gesture that he had been attacked by a grizly bear. I "signed to him to wait till daylight, when I would go out and "look for, and perhaps, kill the creature. A little before sunrise, "Bruin had the boldness to pay us a visit, accompanied by two "cubs, one of last year's brood, and one of this; but as I could "not consistently with safety receive these guests before daylight, "I had all my articles deposited in the saddle-bags, and driven

upon one horse to a mile distant from the camp, when I returned "mounted upon the animal, Mr. McLoughlin had given me, and "which stands fire remarkably well, and found the bear and her

two young ones feeding on acorns under the shade of a large oak. "I allowed the horse to walk within twenty yards, when all three "stood up and growled at me. I levelled my gun at the heart of "the old one, but as she was protecting her young by keeping "them right under her, the shot entered the palate of one of "these, coming out at the back of the head, when it instantly fell. "A second shot hit the mother on the chest as she stood up with "the remaining cub under her belly, on which abandoning it, she "fled to an adjoining hummock of wood. The wound must have "been mortal, as these animals never leave their cubs until they "themselves are on the point of sinking. With the carcase of "the young bear I paid my last guide, who seemed highly to prize "the reward, and then abandoned the chase, deeming it only pru"dent, after what happened yesterday, to retrace my steps towards "the camp of my friends. So I returned crossing the river two "miles lower down than formerly, and halted at night in a low point of wood near a small stream.

Saturday and Sunday, the 28th, and 29th. Both these days being very rainy, as the day before also was, and having very "little clothing, I made all the exertion in my power to reach "Mr. McLeod's encampment near the sea. It was impossible to "keep myself dry, and the poor horses were so fatigued that I was obliged to walk all the way and lead my own by the bridle, "the road becoming continually worse and worse from the floods

of rain. On Saturday night I halted at my second crossing "place, but could procure no food from the Indians, the bad "weather having so swollen the rivers, as to prevent their fishing. "I boiled the last of my rice for supper, which gave but a scanty "meal, and resuming my march, the next day, proceeded pretty "well till, reaching the wooded top of the lofty river bank, my jaded horse stumbled and rolling down, descended the whole depth over dead wood, and large stones, and would infallibly have been dashed to pieces in the river below, had he not "been arrested by getting himself wedged fast between two large "trees that were lying across one another near the bottom. I "hurried down after him, and tying his legs and head close down "to prevent his struggling, cut with my hatchet through one of "the trees, and set the poor beast at liberty. I felt a great deal "on this occasion, as the horse had been Mr McLoughlin's pres"ent to me, and was his own favourite animal. Reached the camp "at dusk, where I found only Michel La Framboise, our Chenook interpreter, and an Indian boy, who told me that the savages "had been very troublesome ever since our brigade of hunters "left him some days before. The former kindly assisted me "to pitch my tent, and gave me some weak spirits and water, with a basin of tea, made from a little that he had brought from Fort "Vancouver, and which greatly refreshed me."

Soon after this, messengers having to be dispatched to Fort Vancouver, Mr. Douglas took advantage of the opportunity and accompanied them homewards. After twelve days travelling under the disadvantage of hunger cold and rain, he reached Fort Vancouver, on the 20th of November, although, not without losing the greater part of his collection in crossing the river Sandiam, a tributary of the Willamette, then swollen with rain. Fortunately, with other rarities, the pine cones were saved.

It was at this period I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Mr. Douglas. Having crossed the Columbia, I arrived in this month of November at head quarters, and soon found the man of science to be one of the heartiest, happiest mortals in our little society. He now received letters from England, consolotary to him in every respect, and the sense of inward satisfaction, as well as the bright gleams cast on his spirit, by the cheering words of those he loved and respected in his native country, brought out in full glow the warm effusions of a pure and honest heart.

The Spring of 1827 was severe, and much snow had fallen. The consequence was that many horses died at Fort Vancouver, and we were visited by the various species of beasts and birds of prey that abound in that country. Most conspicuous among these were the California vulture. This magnate of the air was ever hovering around, wheeling in successive circles for a time, then changing the wing as if wishing to describe the figure 8; the ends of the pinions, when near enough to be seen, having a bend waving upwards, all his movements, whether of soaring or floating ascending or descending, were lines of beauty. In flight he is the most majestic bird I have seen. One morning a large specimen was brought into our square, and we had all a hearty laugh at the eagerness with which the Botanist pounced upon it. In a very short time he had it almost in his embraces fathoming its stretch of wings, which not being able to compass, a measure was brought, and he found it full nine feet from tip to tip. This satisfied him, and the bird was carefully transferred to his studio for the purpose of being stuffed. In all that pertained to nature and science he was a perfect enthusiast. It has been frequently matter of surprise how quickly these birds collect when a large animal dies. None may be seen in any direction, but in a few minutes after a horse or other large animal gives up the ghost they may be descried like specks in the æther, nearing by circles to the prey, when as yet one would not suppose the effluvia from the carcase had reached above a hundred yards. This renders it probable that their sight as well as sense of smelling is very acute, bnt that the latter can guide them entirely without aid from the other, I am certain, as I have started them from carrion within the edge of a forest under bushes which must have precluded the possibility of their seeing the carcase before they alighted on it.

March of 1827 arrived, and we were obliged to part with our agreeable companion. On the 20th of that month he left us to proceed to England by traversing the Rocky mountains in Lat. 54° in company with the Hudson's Bay party, which was accustomed to cross annually to York factory with Spring despatches.

(To be Continued.)

REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The Life, Travels, and Books of Alexander von Humboldt. With an introduction by Bayard Taylor. New York, Rudd & Carleton ;

Montreal, B. Dawson & Son, pp. 482.

This is a very able and interesting account of the life and labours of Humboldt. The author's signature is R. H. S., why the full name is concealed, we cannot tell. The task undertaken by him or her, is ably executed. Those who wish to know what Humboldt did, and the foundation upon which his great fame rests, will find the information desired in this volume. It does not profess to be a biography of the great naturalist and philosopher, but it is a sketch taken from the most authentic sources of the course of his life, from the cradle to the grave. It tells us how and where his youth was spent, at what universities he studied, who were his teachers, what his favorite pursuits, his early employments and thirst for foreign travel. A brief notice is given of his travels and researches, in company with the botanist Bonpland, in the regions of South America, during the early part of the nineteenth century. It traces the course of Humboldt's travels through Russia to the Ural Mountains, and through northern Asia to the mines of the Altai. Finally, the author gives a brief account of the character and cost of the great works prepared and edited by Humboldt; and concludes with agreeable notices of his last days. The name of Humboldt has become a household word in Europe and America. He is everywhere known and acknowledged to be the prince of Modern Science. For those who have not much leisure to peruse the works and to make themselves familiar with the scientific researches of the late Baron von Humboldt, we would recommend the perusal of this volume. It is agreeably written, and is worthy of a place in the study or the family library.

A. F. K.

A first lesson in Natural History. By Actoa. (Mrs. Agassiz.) Boston, Little, Brown, & Co. Montreal, B. Dawson & Son. Illustrated. pp. 82.

This little book has been prepared by its amiable and accomplished Authoress in the hope that it may be interesting to

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VOL. V.

children. Its aim is to make them acquainted with some of the curious aud wonderful forms of animal life which are to be found on the sea shore. Having been revised by Agassiz himself, there is the best guarantee that its facts may be implicitly relied upon. Children may, therefore, be assured that strange as these stories are, they are all perfectly true. The four chapters into which the book is divided treat in succession most pleasantly of sea-Anemones and Corals; Coral Reefs; Hydroids and Jelly-fishes; Starfishes and Sea Urchins. They are addressed in the form of stories to two children, and are so plain aud clear, and yet elegant in their language, that they may easily be understood and appreciated by very young persons. We are sure that this will be a favourite childrens book. Although intended for the young, it may yet be read with profit by fathers and mothers. It is beautifully printed and the illustrations are good. We trust that the authoress may be induced to continue these stories, as they seem to us well-fitted to turn the attention of the young from frivolous and hurtful tales to the healthy and delightful pursuit of Natural Science.

A. F. K.

A Manual of Scientific and Practical Agriculture for the School and the Farm. By J. L. Campbell, A.M., Professor of Phys. Science, Washington College, Va., with numerous illustratiors. pp. 442. Philadelphia, Lindsay & Blakiston. Montreal, B. Dawson & Son. This book has been written to supply the rapidly increasing demand for scientific information applicable to the daily business of agriculture. The chief purpose kept in view in its several chapters has been the preparation of a Manual which might serve as a guide to the young in the acquisition of the sciences pertainining to agriculture. None of the systematic books hitherto published on this subject were adapted to the necessities of the Southern and Western States of America. This unoccupied place the present publication is intended to fill. The plan is both simple and complete. It embraces in well digested and clearly cxpressed paragraphs all the subjects which pertain to the science of farming. The first chapter contains definitions and illustrations of terms, and the twenty-five following embrace the leading facts and principles of chemistry, geology, vegetable physiology, practical treatment of all kinds of soils, and the various cereals, roots