OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 151 



a southerly wind, which they attributed with great probability to the smell ^^--■ 

 of the ships being thus more cxten^iivcly communicated over the island. v,^-r-^* 

 One or two of these poor creatures had been found in the traps with their 

 tongues almost bitten in two. The traps made use of for catching these beau- 

 tiful little animals Avere formed of a small cask, having a sliding door like 

 that of a common mouse-trap, and were baited with oiled meat or blubber. 

 The whole number caught during the winter was between eighty and ninety, 

 of which more than seventy were taken before the end of December. In a 

 single trap of Captain Lyon's, no less than fifteen were caught in the course 

 of four hours, on the night of the 25th of November ; and the people en- 

 gaged in watching the trap remarked that no sooner had one of these ani- 

 mals been taken out, and they themselves retired a few yards, than ano- 

 ther entered it. So stupid indeed arc they in this respect that, in seve- 

 ral instances, those which had escaped from the ships entered, and were 

 re-caught in the same traps as before. 



Of a great number of foxes weighed by Captain Lyon during the winter, 

 the average weight was eight pounds, but they varied from nine and a half 

 to seven, and he observed that the males, though larger than the females, 

 were not so fat. The fur of the whole of them when first caught was of 

 the purest white, except in two or three individuals of a bluish colour, 

 which appeared to be of a different species. The great variety of dis- 

 positions displayed by those which were kept for taming was very re- 

 markable, some being gentle and quiet from the time of their first coming 

 on board, and others remaining wild and intractable in spite of every 

 kindness and good treatment. Our dogs became familiar enough even to 

 play Avith them ; but the foxes Avere, on their part, never entirely free from 

 apprehension on this account. The noise they make AA'hen irritated is a 

 Aveak half-stifled sort of bark, but they have also a more shrill and piercing 

 cry Avhen much frightened. When placed Avith their houses upon the ice, 

 they Avcre constantly endeavouring to burroAv in the snow Avithin the circle 

 of their chains, and one of them, Avhere the snoAv lay deeper than usual, 

 soon formed for himself a secure and sheltered ajjartment under it. M'hen 

 depriA^ed of the means of doing this, they are far from being proof against 

 the scAcrity of the season, for tAvo or three died on board the Fury entirely 

 from this cause, though furnished Avith good kennels. Of those Aviiicli Avere 

 taken better care of, not one remained on board alive when avc Avcnt to 

 sea, the greater part having gradually Avasted away, though well fed and 



