THE ARCTIC FOX. 



SIR JOHN RICHARDSON considers this animal to be the same as the pied Coxes of James : dm!* Lagopus 

 of Linmeus and Forster, Colonel Sabine, Mr. Sabine, Drs. Eichardson and Harlau; tlie Arctic fox 

 of Pennant and Hcariie ; the Terieniak of the Greeulauclers ; the Wappeeskec-shew-mak-keeshew of 

 the Cree Indians ; and the Peszi of the Russians. 





TIIE BLUE FOX. 



I 



According to Captain James Ross, this fox is found in the highest northern latitudes throughout 

 the winter. The young generally migrate to the southward late in the autumn, and collect in va>t, 

 multitudes on the shores of Hudson's Bay; they return early the following spring along the sea-coast 

 to the northward, and seldom again leave the spot they select as a breeding-place. Their southern 

 limit in North America appears to be about 50 N. latitude. They are numerous on the shores 

 of Hudson's Bay, north of Churchill, and are found at Behring's Straits ; but the brown varieties are 

 the more common in the latter quarter. 



The Arctic fox is extremely cleanly ; it never soils its habitation, nor has it any unpleasant 

 smell. It breeds on the sea-coast, chiefly within the A rctic Circle, is very unsuspicious, and easily taken 

 by traps, even, as it is stated, when baited in its presence. Captain Lyon, R.N., received in four hours 

 fifteen which had been taken in one trap. This animal is gregarious, forming burrows in sandy spots, 

 twenty or thirty together. Sir John Richardson saw one of these fox villages on Point Turnagain, in 

 68| N. latitude. It soon becomes tame in confinement, and is eager to hide its food as soon as it is 

 obtained, even when there seems no danger of losing it. Snow is the material generally used for this 

 purpose, and, when piled over the food, is forcibly pressed down by the nose. 



In a recent lecture upon his experience in Arctic life, Dr. Raesaid: " On the journey 1 saw a very 



* Vulpes Lugopus. 



