NOTE ON THE MAMMALIA OF KOLGUEV 



There is no rodent on the island. I had expected to find Myodes 

 lemmus L., the Western Lemming, but it was not there. Equally 

 surprising was the absence of Lepus variabilis L., the Arctic Hare. 

 The Samoyeds had never known of an instance of the occurrence of 

 either of these animals. 



The theory of the recent origin of Kolguev gains in evidence from this 

 fact. For the extent of water or ice between the mainland and Kolguev 

 is sufficient to prevent the passage of both of these creatures. 



We were so little by the sea that my notes on the whales are of small 

 value, and the same applies to the seals. The seals which most 

 commonly occur are apparently PJwca grcenlandica Nilss., the Greenland 

 Seal, which the Samoyeds call Nierpi, and Ph. vitulina L., the Common 

 Seal — N)uk in the Samoyed. Kolguev does not seem to be a very 

 good sealing-ground. The Russian traders took from the Samoyeds 

 very few skins. But these natives obtain sufficient for their own 

 requirements. On Kolguev boots, gloves, and harness (except the 

 saddle and collar) are made of seal-skin. Seal-skin also takes the place 

 of rope ; for thongs of considerable length are obtained by cutting a 

 continuous strip round and round the animal's body. 



Trichechus rosmarus L. Walrus. 

 Morse (R.). Di-ii-li-eh (S.). 



The walrus is only taken by the most adventurous of the natives. 

 Their boats are really not fit for this hunting, nor for going up to the 

 ice. Only two walrus were killed last year. 



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