At about one o'clock P. M. a dense black cloud was seen to collect in the south-west; and advancing towards the peak, it remained nearly stationary over that part of the mountains, pouring down torrents of rain. The thunder was loud and frequent; and though little rain fell near our camp, the creek soon began to swell; and before sunset it had risen about six feet, and again subsided nearly to its former level. When the stream began to rise, it was soon covered with such a quantity of bison's dung, suddenly washed in from the declivities of the mountains and the plains at its base, that the water could scarcely be seen. About this time our cook filled his kettle, and put into it the meat intended for supper; but when the soup was brought to our tent, the flavour of the cow-yard was found so prevalent, and the meat so filled with sand, that very little could be eaten. {211} As one of the objects of our excursion was to ascertain the elevation of the peak, it was determined to remain in our present camp for three days, which would afford an opportunity for some of the party to ascend the mountain. {261} APPENDIX A ANIMALS A Catalogue of the Names of Animals, which we observed at Engineer Cantonment, or at other indicated places, on our journey to that post. MAMMALIA _Vespertilio novaboracensis, L._—New-York bat. —— _Carolinus, Geoff._—Carolina bat. _Scalops aquaticus_—Mole. _Ursus Americanus_, (_gularis, Geoff._)—Black bear. _Procyon lotor_—Racoon. _Taxus labradoricus_—Badger. _Mustela minx_—Mink. —— _vison_. _Mephitis putorius (chinche, Buff. Cuv.)_—Skunk. _Lutra (mustela lutra Braziliensis, Gm. Cuv.)_—Otter. _Canis_—Indian dog. —— _lycaon_—Black wolf. —— _virginianus_—Red fox. —— _cinereo-argenteus_—Gray fox. _Felis concolor_—Cougar. —— _rufa_—Bay lynx. _Didelphius virginiana_—Opossum. _Castor fiber_—Beaver. _Ondatra Zibethicus_—Musk-rat. _Gerbillus Canadensis_—Leaping-mouse. _Arctomys monax_—Maryland marmot. _Mus agrarius?_—Rustic mouse. _Arvicola Zanthognatha, Leach_—Meadow mouse (on the Ohio). {262} _Mus musculus_—introduced by our expedition. _Pseudostoma bursaria_—Pouched rat. _Sciurus cinereus_—Gray squirrel. —— _capistratus_—White-nosed do. —— _striatus_—Ground do. —— _nigra_—Black do. _Lepus Americanus_—Rabbit. _Cervus major_—Elk. —— _Virginianus_—Virginian deer. _Antilocapra Americana, Ord._—Prong-horned antelope. _Bos bison, Gmel._—Bison. BIRDS _Vultur (Cathartes Illig.) aura_—Turkey buzzard. _Falco (Haliœtus, Sav.) leucocephalus_—Bald eagle. —— _(Pandion, Sav.) haliætus?_—Fish-hawk. —— _(Accipitur, V.) ruficaudus, Vieil. (F. Borealis, L. Wilson) _—American buzzard, Lath. —— _(Circus, Bech.) uliginosus_—Marsh-hawk. —— _Buteo (galinivorus, Vieil.)_—Great hen, H. —— _(Milvus, Bech.) furcatus_—Swallow-tailed falcon, Lath.