72 VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 



never stops their search of prey. They are ex- 

 cellent swimmers, and are often seen passing from 

 one island to another, especially at the time when 

 bird-nests are to be found. Some zoologists have 

 affirmed, that they are harmless, simple, and easi- 

 ly taken ; but Fabricius assures us that they pos- 

 sess all the wildness and cunning of the vtdpes, or 

 fox of these kingdoms. Fabricius says, the Arc- 

 tic fox has three different kinds of voices*. Its 

 smell is not so fetid as that of the common fox. 

 Its flesh is not only eaten by the Greenlanders, but 

 some voyagers have esteemed it as being good food. 

 Vid. Phipps, p. 184. 



Their skins are of little value in traffic, espe- 

 cially the white furred ones, as the fur easily comes 

 off. 



It was formerly supposed that there were two 

 species of Arctic foxes, but this is denied by Fabri- 

 cius on very satisfactory grounds. 



These three quadrupeds constitute the entire 

 of that great division of animals which belong to 

 Spitzbergen. In warmer climes, the species are 

 more numerous ; but the individual animals do 

 not there seem to possess more vigour or anima- 



* Vocem hahct triplicem : esi/rienlis e.julando : colrc volenti cla- 

 mando, perklitanlis murmurando. 



