48 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



SO they must at a comparatively recent date liave been fonnd in tlie 

 immediate vicinity. I could find no trace of the musk-ox, or any Eskimo 

 that had seen one; but almost any of them could describe the animal 

 very intelligently, and would tell you they are found far to the north. 

 The Eskimo name for this animal, "omingmuk," is by no means a rare 

 name among them, and it is possible that they were once found on Cum- 

 berland Island, but are now extinct, as other species are in a fair way of 

 becoming. 



The vicinity of the Kikkerton Islands ofters many advantages to -b 

 naturalist ; it is now a pennanent whaling station, and a person coul 1 at 

 any time secure the valuable assistanceof natives, besides having ample 

 conveniences for drying, stowing, &c. It would be comparatively easy 

 to secure a good skeleton of an adult right whale at this place if a per- 

 son went aboufc^ it in the proper manner. Almost any of the smaller ceta- 

 ceans, and all the seals, adult, young, and foetal, could be secured at a 

 very trifling outlay of presents to the Eskimo. 



1. Ursus maritimus, Linn^. 



"Nannok," Ciimberlaud Eskimo. 



It is a rare occurrence to find a bear any distance up Cumberland 

 Sound ; they are common about Cape Mercy, Shaumeer, and Nugumeute» 

 but seldom stray above Niantilic, or the Kikkerton Islands. Below 

 Niautilic, on the southern side of Bear Sound, in the vicinity of what 

 the Eskimo call Okaglik and Kokaluyah, they are quite plenty. Many 

 are captured here every year, especially in spring, by the Eskimo, who 

 fearlessly attack them in their frail kyacks, but are afraid of them on. 

 the ice or land. From Kugumeute to Hudson's Straits they appear to 

 be even more plenty, and westward, in the northern waters of Hudson's 

 Bay, whalemen often procure twenty or more skins in a season. 



In October, 1877, an enormous female with two cubs paid the Eskimo 

 encampment, at the Kikkerton Islands, a visit. They swam over the 

 Salmon Fjord, probably scenting a dead whale that was on the beach near 

 the huts. The bears made a lively time among the huts, and a con 

 siderable outlay of ammunition and dogs was made before they were 

 finally captured. There were about two hundred dogs and half as many 

 natives, besides the crews of two whalers ; aU this motley crowd made war 

 on the bears; one of the whaling captains, a little braver than the rest, 

 got too close to the old bear, and she dealt him a blow which knocked 

 his gun many feet into a snow-bank ; she then began to make way with 

 him, but was prevented by the Eskimo and dogs. A young Eskimo was 



