EXPEDITION TO POINT HARROW, ALASKA. 93 



1. CANIS OCCIDENT ALIS GRISEO ALBUS Bd. 



WOLF (Amuxo). 



The Wolf never appears to come near the coast in the vicinity of Point Harrow. TLenutr.cH, 

 however, have, a good many of their skins ami prize them very highly lor trimming their deerskin 

 clothes, especially for making the frill round the hoo'l of the jacket. 



The skulls also are highly valued as amulets or fetishes, and no whaling umiak is regarded as 

 properly lilted out unless provided with one or more wolf-skulls. 



The natives speak of them as rather plenty inland along the rivers where the reindeer abound, 

 and say I hey chase the deer in packs. 



Our limiting and exploring parties which went inland in the spring of l.S-S-' and LSS.'i saw 

 wolves several times but were unable to secure any specimens. The only skin we obtained, a very 

 large male, was shot by a native hunter near Meade River in the spring of 18.s:;. 



One of the Eskimo trading parties which went east in the summer of 1882 succeeded in catch- 

 ing a couple of male cubs alive. These were brought home early in September, and carefully fed 

 til! lai e in December, at which time their fur was supposed to be fit for use. They were then killed 

 with much ceremony, with a stone-headed arrow. 



The. natives appear to regard the Wolf with a certain amount of superstitious reverence. A 

 man who has killed a Wolf must sleep out of doors in a tent or snow iglu, for one "moon" from 

 that time. 



We obtained one skin and six skulls. 



2. VULFES PULVUS (Deam.) DeKay. 

 RED Fox (KaiaJdul; Kana'Jdua). 



2/i. VULPES FULVUS ARGENTATUS Aud. & Bach. 



I5LACK OK SILVER Fox (Kai 



A few skins of 1 Slack and Red Foxes came in among the furs obtained by the trader at the 

 station. They were all, however, said to have been obtained by trade from the tribes further 

 to the east. 



One of our native deer-hunters last spring (1883), however, came in with a report that he had 

 seen and wounded a Black Fox near the hill Nuasu'knan, which is close to the upper Meade River. 



>'o skins of the cross fox ( V.fiilnifs tlccvssafus) were found among the trade fox-skins. 



3. VULPES LAGOPTJS (Linn.) Aud. & Bach. 

 ARCTIC Fox ( 



The White Fox is quite abundant near the station, especially in winter, when their tracks arc 

 to be seen in the snow all over the tundra. They are, however, so exceedingly shy, and so well 

 proie'-icd by their white covering that the animals themselves are seldom seen at this season. 



During (he egg season, that is, through June, they may be frequently seen "quartering ; ' the 

 tundra in search of eggs and sitting birds, particularly at night, and are occasionally found run- 

 ning along the beach. Their speed when alarmed is very great. They seem almost to fly over the 

 ground instead of running. 



Though usually very wild, hunger sometimes renders them quite bold and familiar. In the 

 spring of INS:.', one of the women at the hunting camp on Meade River found one in the meat 

 house and easily killed him with a stick. 



They are, in general, pretty widely scattered over the country, but sometimes gather in largo 

 numbers where there is any particular supply of food. 



The Eskimos reported in February ISSi', that there were great numbers of them one day's 

 journey to the east feeding on the carcass of a whale that had been washed ashore. Any game 



