110 THE AECTIC FOX. 



this not only protects them from the effects of extreme cold, but aids 

 them in rapid locomotion over slippery ice. 



Another most exceptional peculiarity of these animals is their prac- 

 tice, at least in some regions, of a sort of migration a practice which, 

 so far as we know, exists in no other member of the family of dogs. 



Richardson * tells us that when he wrote they were numerous on the 

 shores of Hudson's Bay, and that they do not breed in solitary fashion, 

 like the Red Fox, but, as it were, in little villages of twenty or thirty 

 burrows constructed in close proximity. Towards the middle of winter 

 the Foxes of the far north migrate southwards, keeping as much as 

 possible to the coast, and going much further southward in districts 

 where the coast-line is in the direction of their march. Captain Parry 

 found that they began to leave Melville Peninsula in November, and 

 that by January few remained. Towards the centre of the continent, in 

 latitude 65, they were only seen in winter, and then not in large 

 numbers. They were very scarce in latitude 61, and at Carlton House, 

 in latitude 53, only two were seen in forty years. It is stated by 

 Hearne f that they arrived at Churchill, in latitude 59, about the 

 middle of October, and afterwards received reinforcements from the 

 north in very great numbers ; those that escaped capture, crossed 

 the Churchill river as soon as it was frozen over, and then went 

 on to the Nelson and Severn rivers. 



The Arctic Fox is said, as a rule, to be easily tamed. It is less 

 cunning and spiteful, and more gentle and confiding, than the true Fox, 

 and has nothing of the offensive odour of the latter. Captain Lyon, 

 who carefully studied this animal during a residence of two winters in 

 Melville Peninsula, tells us | that it is an extremely cleanly animal, 

 being very careful not to dirt those places where it eats or sleeps. 



" Their first impulse on receiving food," he adds, " is to hide it as 

 soon as possible, even though suffering from hunger, and having no 



* Fauna Bor.-Am. p. 87. 



t See his ' Journey from Hudson's Bay to the Northern Ocean/ 1769-72, p. 363. 

 j: See his ' Private Journal of the Voyage of H.M.S. ' Hecla,' under Capt. Parry,' 

 pp. 102-105 (London, 1824). 



