ng our canoe, one or two of us were compelled to go out in
search of game, as it was necessary to dry the bear's flesh as provision
for our voyage, and we preferred fresh meat. We generally returned with
two or three wood-pigeons or other birds.

Just before the completion of the canoe, I accompanied Alick on an
excursion which we intended should be longer than usual. We found the
forest extending not more than a mile from the bank of the river, after
which the country was open, with grassy land and hollows which had once
been the beds of ponds. Here the grass grew especially long.

We had not long started when I observed that the horizon wore an
unearthly ashen hue, and it struck me at once that we were about to have
a storm. Presently it seemed as if the whole air was filled with light
silvery clouds, and what looked at first like flakes of snow falling,
which we saw as they approached nearer to be numberless large insects
with wings. They were, indeed, grasshoppers, as they are called in the
North-West Territory, though they are really locusts. The number in the
air in a short time became so great that at intervals they perceptibly
lessened the light of the sun. I had seen them before in much smaller
quantities; and I at once knew what they were. That I might watch them
more conveniently, I threw myself on my back. When looking upwards, as
near to the sun as the light would permit, I saw the sky continually
change colour from blue to silvery white, ashy grey, and lead colour--
according to the density of the masses of insects. Opposite to the sun,
the prevailing hue was a silvery white, perceptibly flashing.

On one occasion the whole heavens towards the south-east and west
appeared to irradiate a soft grey-tinted light with a quivering motion.
As the day was calm, the hum produced by the vibration of so many
millions of wings was quite indescribable, and was more like what people
call a ringing in one's ears than any other sound that I can think of.

Strange as it may seem, there was something peculiarly awe-producing to
the mind as we watched these countless creatures, as it reminded us of
those scourges sent by God on the land of Egypt as a punishment to its
inhabitants.

At first they took short flights, but as the day increased cloud after
cloud rose from the prairie, and pursued their way in the direction of
the wind. As the day advanced, they settled round us in countless
multitudes, clinging to