The Arctic, or TV/die Fox* 225 



" They were kept on board the vessels for some days, and afterwards let 

 loose ; they did not always appear very anxious to make their escape from 

 the ships, and those that had not been caught sometimes approached vessels 

 on the ice, where, first one would appear, and after a while another, showing 

 that several were in the neighbourhood. They were occasionally observed 

 on the rocks and snow on the land, but were not seen in paclis like wolves ; 

 they do not take to the water or attempt to swim. 



" These Foxes when they see a man do not appear to be frightened ; 

 they run a little way, and then sit down on their haunches like a dog, and 

 face the enemy before running off entirely. They are said to be good eating, 

 the crews of the vessels having feasted on them, and are fat all the winter. — 

 They were occasionally seen following the polar bear to feed on his leavings, 

 seals, flesh of any kind, or fish. 



" Those they captured were easily tamed, seldom attempting to bite 

 even when first caught, and by wrapping a cloth around the hand some of 

 them could be taken out of the barrel and held, not offering more resistance 

 than a snap at the cloth. 



" Several beautiful skins of this animal were brought home by Dr. E. 

 K. Kane, the accomplished surgeon of the expedition, and have since been 

 presented by hmi to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia. 



" Captain Lyon, during two winters passed on the Melville peninsula, 



studied with attention the manners of several of these animals. He says : 



'* The Arctic Fox is an extremely cleanly animal, being very careful not to 

 soil those places where he eats or sleeps. No unpleasant smell is to be 

 perceived even in a male, which is a remarkable circumstance. To come 

 unawares on one of those creatures is, in my opinion, impossible, for even 

 when in an apparently sound sleep they open their eyes at the slightest noise 

 which is made near them, although they pay no attention to sounds when 

 at a short distance. The general time of rest is during the daylight, in which 

 they appear listless and inactive ; but the night no sooner sets in than all 

 their faculties are awakened ; they commence their gambols, and continue ir 

 unceasing and rapid motion until the morning. While hunting for food, 

 they are mute, but when in captivity or irritated, they utter a short growl 

 like that of a young puppy. It is a singular fact, that their bark is so 

 undulated as to give an idea that the animal is at a distance, although at the 

 very moment he lies at your feet. 



" Although the rage of a newly caught Fox is quite ungovernable, yet 

 it very rarely happened that on two being put together they quarrelled. A 

 confinement of a few hours often sufficed to quiet these creatures ; and some 

 instances occurred of their being perfectly tame, although timid, from the 

 first moment of their captivity. On the other hand, there were some which, 

 after months of coaxing, never became more tractable. These we suppose 

 were old ones. 



" Their first impulse on receiving food is to hide it as soon as possible, 

 <3ven though suffering from hunger, and having no fellow-prisoners of whose 

 honesty they are doubtftil. In this case snow is of great assistance, as beino- 

 15 



