The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 41 



To the museum in Copenhagen 14 lemmings have been brought 



home — adult and younger animals. Four of these skins, the rest 

 preserved in spirits. 



The arctic fox. Canis lagopiis L. 



The arctic fox was extremely common on the continent and 

 the larger islands, in the winter time also on small islands and 

 crags and on the inlet ice. Even on the field ice, sometimes far 

 from land, the expedition often met with foxes or the traces of these 

 animals. 



Most numerously the species was to be found in districts espe- 

 cially rich in lemmings, as in the low, fertile country between Hval- 

 rosodden and Mørkefjorden, on Snenæs, in the territory of Storm- 

 kap and the tract near the ship's harbour. 86 foxes, shot or caught 

 chiefly late in the autumn or in the winter were produced for exa- 

 mination. About half the animals killed originate from the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of the ship's harbour. 



With regard to the appearance of the arctic fox outside of the 

 precincts which I personally had the opportunity of examining, I 

 have received the following notes from the sledge travellers of the 

 expedition. 



When travelling northward to lay out depots from ^/4— ^''/4 1907, 

 P. Hansen observed in the district near Cape Amelie — lat. 77°30' n. 

 — four "blue foxes". The travellers saw a great many traces of 

 foxes as well on land as on the sea ice. Also on the rather large 

 island Isle de France, lying off Cape Amélie, they found innumer- 

 able traces of foxes. B. Thostrup who had joined the travellers, 

 told me that on the south-west point of the island (Cape St. Jacques), 

 they found the snow quite trampled down by foxes and bears. In 

 the so-called "snow-foot" sloping down towards the coast, the foxes 

 had made two burrows; one of them had been dug up by a small 

 bear, evidently quite recently. From the traces it appeared distinct- 

 ly that the latter had caught the fox in its den. Judging from the 

 plain marks in the snow, the observer concluded moreover that the 

 bear must have mutilated the fox in order to use it as a play-thing 

 afterwards. During its involuntary intercourse with the bear, the 

 fox had tried in several places to dig itself down in the snow. — 

 The plundered fox's den, a sketch of which was brought me by the 

 narrator, was only 3^/4 meter deep. 



