MAMMALS. 53 



where the reindeer herds abound. It often happens that the Eskimo 

 dogs and wolves interbreed 5 the female dog is especially liable to co- 

 habit with a wolf, and the progeny are considered much superior beasts, 

 but are very hard to manage. I have seen Eskimo dogs that corre- 

 sponded hair for hair with the Arctic wolf. 



The Eskimo say there are packs of dogs now in some localities that 

 have run wild, and in all probability returned to the original wolf type. 

 There are stories of some kind of animal, that from the description given 

 by some may be a Gulo, but others say it is only the common dog ; such 

 animals are always reported from the interior. 



It is said that the female wolf is considerably fleeter than the male, 

 being longer-bodied. The females, the Eskimo say, always distance the 

 males in the chase after the reindeer, and generally succeed in killing 

 the deer before the male comes up. 



5. Mustela ermine a, Linne". 



Two specimens, procured in the Kingnite Fjord, one in the summer 

 and one in the winter fur. Appears to follow the lemming in their 

 migrations ; is nowhere abundant in Cumberland, and even unknown to 

 some of the Eskimo. Said to be able to capture the hare and ptarmi- 

 gan by attaching itself to some vital part and not loosening its hold 

 till the victim is dead. I am rather skeptical on this, however. Still, 

 the Eskimo say they have seen them do it, and it really puzzles me to 

 tell what else they should li ve upon during winter, as they do not hiber- 

 nate. 



6. Myodes torquatus, (Pall.) Keys. & Bias. 



"Awingak," Cumberland Eskimo. 



I procured but a single specimen of the lemming ; this was caught 

 near Cape Mercy. They may yet be common somewhere along the 

 sound, as I saw traces in different places where we stopped. According 

 to the Eskimo, they are getting less common every year. Whalemen 

 have told me that twenty years ago some ships procured as many as 

 four hundred skins at Niantilic, in the spring, from the young Eskimo, 

 who killed them with bows and arrows. From what I could learn of the 

 Eskimo, the lemming is very irregular in its migrations, appearing in 

 great numbers at one place, and then disappearing for many years. 



7. Lepus glacialis, Leach. 



"Okoodlook," Cumberland Eskimo. 



Common in all suitable localities. Many do not undergo any change 

 of color during summer, and I doubt if it be more than partial change 



