52 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



propriated by one of the dogs without question, till one day a strange 

 dog from another settlement was added to the team. The possession of 

 the slut now became the cause of a series of severe fights, which ended 

 in favor of the strange dog, which immediately became the guardian of 

 the slut. The beaten dog began to lag and droop, and in a few days was 

 dead, having gone through all the stages of hydrophobia to all appear- 

 ance. 



This was not the only instance of a similar nature that came under 

 my observation ; still I do not wish to be understood that I place un- 

 shaken faith in this theory. I had too short a time for observation, and 

 too few examples to warrant me in making generalizations on these 

 data $ but I think it well worth the time for any one who does get the 

 opportunity not to overlook these facts. I dissected a number of the 

 male dogs that died from the rabies, but I never could detect any of the 

 organs diseased except the penis, testicles, and sometimes the kidneys. 

 Why this should be the case I am at a loss to say. There is one other 

 theory that may throw some light on the subject, viz, the constant inter- 

 breeding of the dogs. I have known of instances where a dog had 

 possession of the mother and her yearling whelps, all, mother included, 

 of which he was father to. It is certain that the progeny resulting 

 from such connections are very inferior, and tend toward degenerating 

 the race. It often happens that female dogs cohabit with wolves, the 

 dog being driven off by the superior strength of the wolf. This prog- 

 eny again is characterized by superior strength and great powers of 

 endurance, and is less apt to suffer from disease. 



It sometimes happens, the Eskimo tell me, that a family goes into the 

 interior and remains for a year or more, but seldom loses any dogs by 

 disease 5 they have an idea that the salt-water has something to do with 

 their dogs dying, for they say they do not die when they live away 

 from it. It does not seem probable, however, that the disease would 

 prove contagious, assigning either of the above causes for its origin. 



Again, is it positively known that the disorder is not communicable 

 by bite ? I am by no means sure of this. The Eskimo always carefully 

 get out of the way of dogs afflicted in this manner, and they told me 

 that if one of the sfck dogs bit me I would get the same disorder. This 

 information may have been imparted to them by whalemen, however. 



4. Canis occidentalis, var. griseo-alba, Bd. 

 "Amarook" (?), Cumberland Eskimo. 



Wolves are frequently seen during the winter months on both shores 

 of Cumberland ; their principal resorls, however, are further inland, 



