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gs； and we believe raise only one brood in a season； at the present moment they are just hatching their young。〃
Dr。 Coues says that we should bear in mind that this was written 〃when bats were birds and whales were fishes for most persons。〃 The journal confounds bats； which are winged mammals； with goatsuckers； or whippoorwills； which are birds。
The second of July was an interesting date for the explorers。 On that day we find the following entry in their journal：
〃A shower of rain fell very early this morning。 We then despatched some men for the baggage left behind yesterday； and the rest were engaged in putting the boat together。 This was accomplished in about three hours； and then we began to sew on the leather over the crossbars of iron on the inner side of the boat which form the ends of the sections。 By two o'clock the last of the baggage arrived； to the great delight of the party； who were anxious to proceed。 The mosquitoes we find very troublesome。
〃Having completed our celestial observations； we went over to the large island to make an attack upon its inhabitants； the bears； which have annoyed us very much of late； and were prowling about our camp all last night。 We found that the part of the island frequented by the bears forms an almost impenetrable thicket of the broad…leaved willow。 Into this we forced our way in parties of three； but could see only one bear； which instantly attacked Drewyer。 Fortunately； as he was rushing on； the hunter shot him through the heart within twenty paces and he fell； which enabled Drewyer to get out of his way。 We then followed him one hundred yards； and found that the wound had been mortal。
〃Not being able to discover any more of these animals； we returned to camp。 Here； in turning over some of the baggage； we caught a rat somewhat larger than the common European rat； and of a lighter color； the body and outer parts of the legs and head of a light lead color； the inner side of the legs； as well as the belly； feet； and ears； white； the ears are not covered with hair； and are much larger than those of the common rat； the toes also are longer； the eyes are black and prominent； the whiskers very long and full； the tail is rather longer than the body； and covered with fine fur and hair of the same size with that on the back； which is very close； short； and silky in its texture。 This was the first we had met； although its nests are very frequent in the cliffs of rocks and hollow trees； where we also found large quantities of the shells and seed of the prickly…pear。〃
The queer rat discovered by Lewis and Clark was then unknown to science。 It is now known in the Far West as the pack…rat。 It lives in holes and crevices of the rocks； and it subsists on the shells and seeds of the prickly pear； which is usually abundant in the hunting grounds of the little animal。 The explorers were now constantly in full view of the Rocky Mountain； on which； however； their present title had not then been conferred。 Under date of July 2； the journal says：
〃The mosquitoes are uncommonly troublesome。 The wind was again high from the southwest。 These winds are in fact always the coldest and most violent which we experience； and the hypothesis which we have formed on that subject is； that the air； coming in contact with the Snowy Mountains； immediately becomes chilled and condensed； and being thus rendered heavier than the air below； it descends into the rarefied air below； or into the vacuum formed by the constant action of the sun on the open unsheltered plains。 The clouds rise suddenly near these mountains； and distribute their contents partially over the neighboring plains。 The same cloud will discharge hail alone in one part； hail and rain in another； and rain only in a third； all within the space of a few miles； while at the same time there is snow falling on the mountains to the southeast of us。 There is at present no snow on those mountains； that which covered them on our arrival； as well as that which has since fallen； having disappeared。 The mountains to the north and northwest of us are still entirely covered with snow； indeed； there has been no perceptible diminution of it since we first saw them； which induces a belief either that the clouds prevailing at this season do not reach their summits or that they deposit their snow only。 They glisten with great beauty when the sun shines on them in a particular direction； and most probably from this glittering appearance have derived the name of the Shining Mountains。〃
A mysterious noise； heard by the party； here engaged their attention； as it did years afterwards the attention of other explorers。 The journal says：
〃Since our arrival at the falls we have repeatedly heard a strange noise coming from the mountains in a direction a little to the north of west。 It is heard at different periods of the day and night （sometimes when the air is perfectly still and without a cloud）； and consists of one stroke only； or of five or six discharges in quick succession。 It is loud； and resembles precisely the sound of a six…pound piece of ordnance at the distance of three miles。 The Minnetarees frequently mentioned this noise； like thunder； which they said the mountains made； but we had paid no attention to it； believing it to have been some superstition； or perhaps a falsehood。 The watermen also of the party say that the Pawnees and Ricaras give the same account of a noise heard in the Black Mountains to the westward of them。 The solution of the mystery given by the philosophy of the watermen is； that it is occasioned by the bursting of the rich mines of silver confined within the bosom of the mountains。〃
Of these strange noises there are many explanations； the most plausible being that they are caused by the explosion of the species of stone known as the geode； fragments of which are frequently found among the mountains。 The geode has a hollow cell within； lined with beautiful crystals of many colors。
Independence Day； 1805； was celebrated with becoming patriotism and cheerfulness by these far…wandering adventurers。 Their record says：
〃An elk and a beaver are all that were killed to…day； the buffalo seem to have withdrawn from our neighborhood； though several of the men； who went to…day to visit the falls for the first time； mention that they are still abundant at that place。 We contrived； however； to spread not a very sumptuous but a comfortable table in honor of the day； and in the evening gave the men a drink of spirits； which was the last of our stock。 Some of them appeared sensible to the effects of even so small a quantity； and as is usual among them on all festivals； the fiddle was produced and a dance begun； which lasted till nine o'clock； when it was interrupted by a heavy shower of rain。 They continued their merriment； however； till a late hour。〃
Their bill…of…fare； according to Captain Lewis； was bacon； beans； suet dumplings； and buffalo meat； which； he says； 〃gave them no just cause to covet the sumptuous feasts of our countrymen on this day。〃 More than a year passed before they again saw and tasted spirits。
Great expectations were entertained of the boat that was built here on the iron frame brought all the way fro