114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



January the fur appeared to grow very fast and by the middle of that 

 month was perfectly white, with the exception of small tufts of the 

 old hair, which in a great many instances remained entangled in the 

 new throughout the winter. It was also generally noted that the 

 lai'gest and best conditioned foxes had the best fur. 



During the winter the fox depends almost entirely on the Lemming 

 (Myodes torquatus) for subsistence, but during the seal breeding sea- 

 son may often be seen roaming over the ice in search of the young 

 seal, and when very hungry will attack the older ones. 



On visiting the traps one day it was found that a fox had been 

 caught, but had by some means gone off with the trap. As it was 

 supposed it could not go far it was tracked in the snow, but after 

 walking five miles the attempt to come up with it was given up. Three 

 weeks later this fox was sighted a few hundred yards from the obser- 

 vatory and was given chase by an Eskimo who soon captured it, when 

 it was found the trap was very rusty and deeply imbedded in the leg. 



Unlike the red fox the white species when caught will howl most 

 piteously as it is appi'oached by the trapper, and upon going up to it 

 it immediately stands on the defensive and will fight most fiercely 

 for its life. 



After Februaiy 1st foxes became very scarce and few were taken, 

 the last being seen on May 10th. A few remain on the coast through- 

 out the year, but nearly all migrate to the interior, whex'e they can 

 enjoy the luxuries of young ptarmigan and other birds, besides the 

 pleasui-e of scratching their backs upon small bushes when undergoing 

 the difiicult process of change of clothing. 



Eskimo Dog (Canis Familiaris, Linn), (Kitigmik, Eskimo). 



The Eskimo dog so nearlyr esembles the wolf (Canis Lupus occi- 

 dentalis) it is difficult to desci'ibe it as other than that animal, except- 

 ing when in harness and under the lash of its master's whip. 



When at liberty it may often be seen roaming over the country in 

 search of the Lemming or other food, and appears only to care for its 

 master for the food it may get from him. 



There is only one redeeming quality in its habits, and that is its 

 simple appetite ; it will live a great length of time without food and 

 is not at all particular what it eats, as the following list of articles 

 which I have seen it devour will show : — An old cloth hat, a boot, 

 pai't of a flannel shirt, pai't of a pair of trousers without the buttons. 



