THE ARCTIC FOX 57 



said to be nine or ten in a litter; all the cubs are born 

 " blue," but those which will eventually turn white 

 in winter are lighter than the others. As they grow 

 older the future white foxes become yellow ; those 

 which remain permanently blue alter but little with 

 advancing age. 



The present species, together with the northern 

 sea-cow, was first discovered by Bering's party, who 

 in 1741 were shipwrecked on the Commander 

 Islands in the North Pacific. The story of these 

 luckless mariners has been elsewhere related j 1 

 suffice it to say that during their involuntary sojourn 

 the sailors had but too ample an opportunity of 

 studying the Arctic fox. Impudent, inquisitive, and 

 cunning, the animals broke into the huts both by 

 day and by night, not only stealing provisions but 

 committing all kinds of senseless thefts, such as 

 purloining knives, sticks, and clothes. Every 

 movement of the party was watched with insatiable 

 curiosity ; the foxes accompanied the crew on their 

 journeys, and even dared to snatch flesh from the 

 hands of those who were flaying dead animals. At 

 night the foxes came round the sleeping camp, 

 stealing the very nightcaps of the sailors and the 

 gloves that lay under their heads; and caused more 

 serious annoyance by crowding about the sick and 

 infirm, so that they could scarcely be kept off. In the 

 intervals of business, so to speak, the foxes patrolled 



1. Renshaw : "More Natural History Essays" pp. 157-8 and 159-60. 



