89 



WHITE FOX. 



Canis laf/ajms. 

 French : Renard blanc. German : Weiss Fuchs. 



This small but interesting Fox, called the White or 

 Arctic Fox, inhabits the most northern part of the 

 Dominion of Canada. It is most numerous on the east 

 coast of Hudson's Bay, that is in the Little Whale 

 Eiver district ; it is also found in Newfoundland and in 

 Labrador, where it attains its largest size, and the fur 

 is then of the best qualit}'. 



The White Fox is also abundant in the York Fort 

 and Esquimaux Ba}' districts. A great many are also 

 captured in Alaska ; but from this latter province the 

 skins are coarse in the fur, and sometimes rather matted, 

 although otherwise of good quality. A similar variety, 

 but still coarser owing to the sea-air, is found in the 

 large island of Kadiak, off the Alaska coast, and in the 

 Pribylov Islands. 



The White Fox is likewise plentiful in Siberia, 

 especially in the provinces of Jeneisisk, Jakutsk, and 

 Obdovsk. About 25,000 to 60,000 are imported 

 annually ; these usuall}' find their way to Europe, 

 through Leipsic or Irbit. The skins are, as a rule, 

 rather coarse. The White Fox is found in the Faroe 

 Islands and in Greenland. The Greenland Fox is 

 slightl}^ smaller in size than the usual American type, 

 but has very fine fur, and in this respect approaches 

 its Labrador brethren of the opposite coast. 



The White Fox is of rather small size, and is about 2 

 feet long. In winter it is pure white, except a few blackish 

 hairs, which are usually found at the tip of the tail, and 



