Otters, loutres. This has reference only to the river otter, Lutra
Canadensis. The sea otter, Lutra marina, is only found in America
on the north-west Pacific coast.
Muskrat, rats musquets. The musk-rat, Fiber zibethecus, sometimes called musquash from the Algonquin word, m8sk8éss8, is found in three varieties, the black, and rarely the pied and white. For a description of this animal vide Le Jeune, Jesuit Relations, 1635, pp. 18, 19.
180. The Verchères.
181. Summits of the Green Mountains.
182. From the Verchères to Montreal, the St. Lawrence is full of islands, among them St. Thérèse and nameless others.
183. This was the Island of St Hélène, a favorite name given to several other places. He subsequently called it St Hélène, probably from Hélène Boullé, his wife. Between it and the mainland on the north flows the Rapide de Ste. Marie.—Vide Lauru's Chart.
184. This landing was on the present site of the city of Montreal, and the
little island, according to Laverdière, is now joined to the mainland
by quays.
185. The island of Montreal, here referred to, not including the isle
Jésus, is about thirty miles long and nine miles in its greatest
width.
186. The Isle Perrot is about seven or eight miles long and about three miles wide.
187. Island of St Paul, sometimes called Nuns' Island.