ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 37 



explorers, Kane and Rae ; both of whom made frequent use of 

 them, in scouring those inhospitable wastes in search of the 

 missing Franklin and his crew ; had he been provided with 

 those necessary appendages of Arctic travel, we should aot 

 have the mournful detail recorded by the natives to Dr. Rae 

 in 1854, " that a band of forty white men dragging their sledges 

 along the coast of King William's land were making appa- 

 rently for the great Fish River ; that all, even with one who 

 seemed to be an officer, were dragging on the haul ropes of 

 the sledge." Both these explorers speak in the highest terms 

 of the assistance these dogs afforded to their party ; and from 

 Dr. Kane the writer gleaned what knowledge he has of their 

 habits. Snow he stated to be their substitute for water ; and 

 on a lump of it, or ice given to those he brought to New 

 York with him, they would roll with the greatest delight. 

 The snow he observed they did not lick up, but by repeatedly m 

 pressing with the nose, they would obtain a small lump or ball 

 of it, which they then drew into the mouth with their tongue. 



The following account is given of the habits and disposition 

 of one of these dogs by its owner : " Even if coaxed and fed 

 by a stranger, he had so strong an attachment to his master, 

 that he would merely take the food without returning thanks 

 either by looks or wag of the tail. He never barked, and 

 would snap at those he did not like, without a growl or the 

 least notice. He was remarkably cunning, resembling in 

 that respect the fox, for he was in the habit of strewing his 

 meat around him to induce fowls or rats to come within his 

 reach, while he lay watching, but pretending to be asleep, 

 and when near enough he would pounce upon them, never 

 missing his aim." 



THE Fox (Canis Vulpes), when compared with the dog 

 family, is found to be lower in height, in proportion to its 

 length. 



Description. Its nose is sharp, limbs slender, tail bushy 

 and long, reaching to the ground. This family, generally 



3651O8 



