is perfectly white except the nose and tips of the ears, which are black, and the hair extends so as to cover its nails.  The various kinds of owls, and the Canada jay, which winter in these latitudes, have a feathery, half-hairy protection to the toes.  The American species of the reindeer, which under the name of cariboo, inhabits the country around the foot of Lake Superior, has its hoof split in such a manner that it, in fact, serves as a kind of snow shoe, spreading quite thin over about forty superficial inches, which enables it to walk on the crusted snow.

29th.  Dr. William Augustus Ficklin, of Louisiana (Jackson), recalls my attention to the U.S.  Exploring Expedition, the programme of which embraces my name.  “You will want a physician and surgeon attached to the expedition.  Is the place yet filled?” My acquaintance with this young gentleman, then a lad at his father’s house, in Missouri, recalls many pleasing recollections, which gives me every inducement to favor his wishes.

August 2d.  Mr. Robert Irwin, Junr., of Green Bay, writes that a most diabolical attempt was recently made at that place, a few days ago, to take the life of Maj.  Twiggs, by a corporal belonging to his command.  The circumstances were briefly these:  About two o’clock in the afternoon, the major had retired to his room to repose himself.  Soon after the corporal entered the room so secretly that he presented a loaded musket within a few inches of his head, and, as Providence would have it, the gun missed fire.  The noise awoke the major, who involuntarily seized the muzzle, and, while looking the fellow full in the face, he cocked the gun and again snapped it; but it missed fire the second time.  With that the major sprang up in bed and wrenched the gun out of the assassin’s hands, and with the breech knocked the fellow down, fracturing his skull so much that his life was for many days despaired of.

4th.  Gov.  Cass, who has proceeded to Green Bay as a Commissioner for treating with the Indians, writes:  “I am waiting here very impatiently for arrivals from the Indian country.  But nothing comes, as yet, except proof stronger and stronger of the injustice done to the Winnebagoes by the actual seizure of their country.”  To repress this spirit of the people of northern Illinois, much time and negotiation was required.  By his knowledge of the Indian and frontier character, an arrangement was at length concluded for the occupation of the Rock River and Galena country.

23d.  An official letter of the New York Lyceum of Natural History expresses their thanks for recent donations.  Dr. Van Rensselaer says:  “Your birds, reptiles, and quadrupeds have been most graciously received....  The expedition to the South Seas (heretofore noticed in this journal) will afford a field for some naturalist to labor in.  Dr. Dekay intends to apply for the situation.  We are at present engaged in drawing up some instructions for the naturalist (whoever he may be), which we shall hand to Mr. Southard, who is now here and has requested it.  We trust the expedition will add something to our knowledge as well as to our pecuniary wealth.”