ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 101 



the phoca barbata is mostly found ; and they are usually 

 of a great size, many of more than twelve feet in length, 

 and of proportionate magnitude of body ; but from the 

 persecutions of the natives, and the advanced season when 

 the ships get so far, very few of these are killed. This seal 

 migrates in families, the elder ones leading the van, whilst 

 the younger progeny follow confusedly behind, playing a 

 thousand awkward tricks, tumbling and frisking along in 

 the highest glee, and often in the extravagance of their 

 fun flinging themselves quite out of the water. The sailors 

 give to such assemblages the humorous name of " seals' 

 weddings." The chief line of migration which thej^ appear 

 to move on is westward, and the groups which I observed 

 invariably went in that direction. 



Canis Familiaris (the dog). — This useful and faithful 

 animal is peculiarly valuable to the Greenlander, serving 

 him in the capacity of a horse to draw his sledge over the 

 snow, which he does with astonishing obedience. For this 

 purpose, they are commonly yoked in pairs, and twelve are 

 the usual number employed. The harness is nothing but 

 light thong made of seal or deer-skin. The figure of tlie 

 Greenland dog is singular. Of a size between the wolf and 

 fox, he seems to partake of the appearance of both, but 

 mostly resembles the latter. The snout is pointed ; the ears 

 short and erect ; the tail is bushy and pendulous, but a little 

 recurved ; the body is covered with long rough hair, which 



