ZOOLOGICAL CHAHACTEE OP UNGAVA. 83 



barren islets of Ungava Bay. The land birds equal the water birds iu number. The 

 general character of the country forbids the occurrence of many breeding birds ; hence, 

 they pass beyond the Strait, on like the Black Brant and Canada Groose, they go north 

 in spring and return by another route in the autumn, so that they are seen but once in 

 the year. The former is most abundant in spring and is never seen after the middle of 

 June ; while the latter is more plentiful in the fall of the year. There are no morasses of 

 of oozy soil having rank growths of succulent vegetation affording food for the young of 

 these species. The shores are sand, graA'el or rock, and no flats of mud tempt the waders, 

 fresh-water ducks, and geese, to breed in the vicinity. 



The ocean waters bordering the northern and western shores of the district contain 

 many species of cetaceans. Some of them were clearly identified, while the species of 

 others were not satisfactorily determined. Few of the larger whales appear near the 

 coasts. The Dolphins, Grampuses, Porpoises and Narwhals are the most common. The 

 White "Whale is taken in great numbers. The Narwhal is more abundant toward the 

 western end of the Strait, seldom appearing in the southern part of Uugava Bay. 



Of the land mammals, the Reindeer, Beaver, Muskrat, Porcupine, Hare (two species). 

 Bear (three species), Mink, Marten, Otter, Wolverine, Fox (four species). Wolf and Lynx 

 are the most important. There are no less than six species of Hair Seals occurring in the 

 sea ; these with the Walrus constitute an important element in the food and general wel- 

 fare of fully two-thirds of the population of the district of Ungava. 



