Lewis: July 8, 1805

Monday July 8th 1805. Capt. Clark Determined to make a second effort to
replace the notes which he had made with rispect to the river and falls
accordingly he set out after an early breakfast and took with him the
greater part of the men with a view also to kill buffaloe should there be
any in that quarter. after geting some distance in the plains he divided
the party and sent them in different directions and himself and two others
struck the Missouri at the entrance of medicine river and continued down
it to the great Cataract, from whence he returned through the plains to
camp where he arrived late in the evening. the hunters also returned
having killed 3 buffaloe 2 Antelopes and a deer. he informed me that the
immence herds of buffaloe which we had seen for some time past in this
neighbourhood have almost entirely disappeared and he beleives are gone
down the river.

The day being warm and fair about 12 OCk. the boat was sufficiently dry to
receive a coat of the composition which I accordingly applyed. this adds
very much to her appearance whether it will be effectual or not. it gives
her hull the appearance of being formed of one solid piece. after the
first coat had cooled I gave her a second which I think has made it
sufficiently thick. The mountains which ly before us from the South, to
the N. W. still continue covered with snow. one hunter also passed the
river to hunt this morning in the evening he returned having killed a Buck
and a male Antelope. The party who were down with Capt. Clark also killed
a small fox which they brought with them. it was a female appeared to give
suck, otherwise it is so much like the comm small fox of this country
commonly called the kit fox that I should have taken it for a young one of
that species; however on closer examination it did apear to differ
somewhat; it’s colour was of a lighter brown, it’s years proportionably
larger, and the tale not so large or the hair not so long which formed it.
they are very delicately formed, exceedingly fleet, and not as large as
the common domestic cat. their tallons appear longer than any species of
fox I ever saw and seem therefore prepared more amply by nature for the
purpose of burrowing. there is sufficient difference for discrimination
between it and the kit fox, and to satisfy me perfectly that it is a
distinct species. the men also brought me a living ground squirrel which
is something larger than those of the U States or those of that kind which
are also common here. this is a much hadsomer anamal. like the other it’s
principal colour is a redish brown but is marked longitudinally with a
much greater number of black or dark bron stripes; the spaces between
which is marked by ranges of pure white circular spots, about the size of
a brister blue shot. these colours imbrace the head neck back and sides;
the tail is flat, or the long hair projecting horizontally from two sides
of it only gives it that appearance. the belly and breast are of much
lighter brown or nearly white. this is an inhabitant of the open plain
altogether, wher it burrows and resides; nor is it like the other found
among clifts of rocks or in the woodlands. their burrows sometimes like
those of the mole run horizontally near the surface of the ground for a
considerable distance, but those in which they reside or take refuge
strike much deeper in the earth.Slight rain this afternoon.
musquetoes troublesome as usual.