APPENDIX III. 479 



leads a much more retiring life, though every moment traces of it were 

 to be seen. It is eagerly pursued by both birds and beasts of prey, so 

 that it is not without reason that it tries to make itself as little notice- 

 able as possible. It has two different garbs, a dark summer dress, and 

 a light, longer-haired winter one. 



The most noxious animal of these regions is the wolf. It is the 

 terror of all the game except the musk-ox and the bear, and its presence 

 alone is enough to drive away reindeer, foxes, and hares. The latter 

 are no doubt its chief food. A number of musk-oxen are also destroyed 

 by it every year ; but on the whole these animals understand so well 

 how to defend themselves that the old bulls must be a greater source 

 of danger to the wolf than the wolf is to them. There is no doubt 

 that in the winter the wolves are often sharp-set, and then they become 

 somewhat less cautious than at other times, but we never saw any sign 

 that they would attack people. 



The ermine (JIustela ermineii) was found everywhere ; but, like the 

 lemming, it is comparatively seldom seen. Several specimens, however, 

 were shot during the course of the expedition. 



There is still, perhaps, another animal of prey to be found in these 

 tracts, the glutton (Gulo hiscus). It is a more southerly and westerly 

 form, and its tracks, or the animal itself, were not with certainty 

 observed east of Crown Prince Gustav Sea. 



Of land-birds only a few were observed. The gyr falcon (Falco 

 yyrfalcd) was met with at several places, and several of them were shot. 

 The snowy owl (Nyctea nivea) was less common, but was seen now and 

 again. It was even more shy than the gyr falcon, and we never 

 succeeded in shooting one. The raven (Corvus corax) was frequently 

 seen, and was also observed in circumstances which would lead one to 

 suppose it to be nesting. It was in every way more shy than, foi 

 instance, in Greenland, and only one was shot. The raven is the 

 scavenger of the polar regions, and will eat anything and everything ; 

 but it is only when in extreme want that it will touch bear-liver. 



The only singing-bird of these barren climes is the snow-bunting 

 (Pledrophanes nivalis). In other places, perhaps, its song might seem 

 very humble, but here it is appreciated to the full, and it is welcomed 

 with great pleasure on its return in the spring, at the end of March or 

 beginning of April. Doubtless it is often in want of food at this time, 

 but it always looks as happy and cheerful as possible. In October it 

 goes south again. 



The ptarmigan (Lag opus mutus) is common. It is to be found in 

 these countries all the year round, but in the winter many certainly 

 migrate south, although they may come back again early. They are 

 then met with in packs of thirty or forty, and are often rather wild. 



