472 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



at last oblio'ed to hano: a veil of sail-cloth before tlie 

 cage. 



On the 23rd of August, on our return voyage, we saw 

 through the pack-ice, half hidden by the fog, the three 

 last bears, and as it fell they seemed to be taking leave 

 of us in a stage tableau. 



The Arctic fox (Cants lagopus, h.'^) is a very interest- 

 ing species of its genus. It is either (and that irrespec- 

 tive of the time of year) bluish white or grey.^ Its coat, 

 which is wonderfully soft, forms an article of commerce 

 with the Hudson's Bay Company. It is considerably 

 smaller in bulk than the polar hare, which, when 

 grown up, generally weighs eight pounds and three- 

 quarters. Its flesh is no delicacy. Barentz, and since 

 him several other Arctic travellers, have, however, 

 found it enjoyable, and we (Pansch and Copeland) did 

 our best to eat it. 



The Arctic fox has, with but few exceptions, none of 

 the cunning attributed to our own Reynard. At least 

 our recollections of it (except in one or two cases) are 

 of a most harmless character. Durino- the winter we sue- 

 ceeded in catching some after the manner of the Esqui- 

 maux. Once one was taken out of the trap and laid 

 down for dead, but after a time it sprang up and rushed 

 away. For the young ducks, for which it has a great 

 weakness, the fox is a bitter enemy. It lives upon any- 

 thing it can get in winter, even shell-fish and other salt- 

 water produce which is brought by the tide on to the 

 strand-ice. In the summer lemmings seem to be its 

 chief food. 



* 111 Greeulaudish, I'enenniaJc and Kalcaka. 



' Bctweeu which there are varieties or cross-breeds. 



