I.I.ST OF ANIMALS OF SPITZBERGEN. 145 



the pool ; which the bear no sooner observed than he threw 

 off all disguise, rushed towards the spot, and followed him 

 in an instant into the water, where I fear he was as much 

 disappointed in his meal as we were of the pleasure of wit- 

 nessing a very interesting encounter." — Vorjage of Dorothea 

 and Trent, p. 82 ; see also p. Ill for other particulars of the 

 habits of the bear. 



Fox. Page 80. 

 VuLPES Lagopus — Arctic Fox. 

 Not very abundant apparently in Spitzbergen. On Phipps' 

 expedition it was met Avith, but not very frequently, on the 

 mainland and the adjacent islands. The commander re- 

 cords that " it smells very little", and that his party ate of 

 the flesh of one, and found it good meat. On Parry's ex- 

 pedition several were seen near Hecla Cove, and one was 

 shot on the western shore of Waygatz Straight. 



Sea Dogs. Page 83. 



Callocephalus fcetidus, Phoca foetida Miiller — the Rough or 



Ringed Seal. 



Sir J. C. Ross mentions, that on Parry's expedition two 

 young animals of this species were shot during the jour- 

 ney over the ice, and were found to be excellent food, 

 and that some were seen as far north as lat. 82° \. '' The 

 meat of these young animals is tender and free from oili- 

 ness, but it certainly has a smell and a look which would 

 not have been agreeable to any but very hungry people like 

 ourselves. We also considered it a great prize on account 

 of its blubber, which gave us fuel sufficient for cooking six 

 hot messes for our whole party, though the animal only 

 weighed thirty pounds in the whole. These animals .... 

 are, when very small, best procured by shooting thcni in 

 the head with small shot ; but if quite killed at once, they 

 are apt to sink immediately and be lost." — Parry, Narrative, 

 p. 91. 



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