ARCTIC FOX. 327 



generally from 70 to 65 degrees latitude. They 

 abound in Nova Zembla: are found in Cherry 

 island, midway between Finmark and Spitzbergen ; 

 to which they must have been brought on islands 

 of ice; for it lies above four degrees north of 

 the first, and three south of the last : and, lastly, 

 in the bare mountains between Lapland and Nor- 

 way. 



" They are the hardiest of animals, and even in 

 Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla prowl for prey dur- 

 ing the severity of winter. They live on the young 

 wild geese, and all kinds of water-fowl; on their 

 eggs; on hares or any lesser animals; and in 

 Greenland (through necessity) on berries, shell- 

 fish, or whatsoever the sea throws up. But in 

 the north of Asia, and in Lapland, their princi- 

 pal food is the Leming (a species of mouse). The 

 Arctic Foxes of those regions are as migratory 

 as those little animals ; and when the last make 

 their great migrations, the former pursue them in 

 vast troops. But such removals are not only un- 

 certain, but long: dependent on those of the 

 Leming. The Foxes will, at times, desert their 

 native countries for three or four years, probably 

 as long as they can find any prey. The people 

 of Jenisea imagine that the wanderers from their 

 parts go to the banks of the Oby. Those found 

 on Bering's and Copper isles were probably 

 brought from the Asiatic side on floating ice: 

 Steller having seen in the remoter islands only 

 the black and brown Foxes : and the same only 

 on the continent of America. They burrow in 



