CANIS LAGOPUS. 109 



only in habit of body, as evidenced by its odour and the peculiarity 

 of its changing hues, but in its psychical nature also, it is distinct from 

 its congeners, as we may see from its habits and manners, both in a 

 wild state and in captivity. It is also peculiar in its geographical 

 position, since, as its name implies, it ranges through almost all the 

 lands hitherto explored, of both the Old World and the New, which 

 most nearly approximate to the North Pole. 



We have already met with various species which we may confidently 

 affirm, or reasonably suppose, to vary with the season in the abundance 

 or in the tints of their furry coat ; but the Arctic Fox is much more 

 remarkable in this respect, for in the summer it is of a bluish or some- 

 times brownish-grey tint, while in the winter it becomes almost entirely 

 white. This change, which is like that met with in the Ermine and the 

 Variable Hare, seems to occur in no other member of the Canine family. 

 The transformation, however, does not, by any means, invariably take 

 place even in this species. Individuals seem often to be met with 

 in their native haunts with their summer dress in winter *, while 

 others appear to remain entirely white the whole year round. This 

 has given rise to the opinion, which F. Cuvier favoured, that there 

 were two species, one changing and the other permanently white. 

 Mr. Bartlett, however, assures us, as the result of his observations 

 on specimens living in our Zoological Gardens, that amongst a 

 number of individuals, otherwise absolutely indistinguishable, the 

 greater number of which undergo their seasonal change, there will be 

 some which do not do so. Schreber also relates, on the authority of 

 trustworthy hunters, that both white and grey cubs are sometimes 

 found in the same litter. 



The head of this animal is less pointed than that of the true Fox, 

 the muzzle having a somewhat swollen appearance. The ears also are 

 short and rounded. There are long hairs on the hinder part of the 

 cheek, which, projecting backwards, give the face a peculiar aspect. The 

 soles of the feet are covered, especially in winter, with dense woolly hair ; 



* Messrs. Fischer and Pelzeln met with grey foxes till the 27th of December, 

 although a white one was seen by them on the 21st of November. 



