1905] A NATURALIST IN THE FROZEN NorTH. 83 
walked toward it with one of the firemen in order to get a better 
view of it, but it disappeared through its hole in the ice. I then 
walked over to examine the hole but failed to find it. The sur- 
roundings disguised its whereabouts, the packed snow of the low 
rocks being just sufficiently ridged to hide it from view; and this 
was a clear case of protection to the creature. 
Irrespective of difficulties, three species of seals were deter- 
mined, viz., the Flipper or Ringed Seal (Pagomys fetidus), com- 
mon at Fullerton, where it was frequently to be seen at the floe 
or open water during the winter, and it was also seen in Baffin 
Bay; the Harp Seal (Pagophilus grenlandicus), seen in Baffin 
Bay, and on the ice near Cumberland sound; and the Hooded 
Seal (Cystophora cristata), seen resting on a sheet of ice in Davis 
Straits. 
The Polar Bear (Zhalarctos maritimus) can be seen during the 
short summer, walking about when the ground is carpeted with a 
low-growing vegetation, and cranberries and blueberries paint the 
landscape, and when, in certain localities, there is snow only in 
ravines and deep hollows where the sun cannot penetrate. Some- 
times also his bruinship is to be seen on the floating ice in the 
sea. Bears were encountered as they were walking about on the 
mountain sides at Eric Cove and at Digges Island, Ungava, and 
on floating ice off Southampton Island, where walruses were 
observed. Also among the ice. at the head of Hudson Straits, 
near Cumberland Sound, and in Baffin Bay. 
A Barren Ground Wolf (Canzs lupus albus) was killed with a 
trap gun in the month of March. If this were the same individ- 
ual—which is more than probable—it had been seen severai times 
forsome days, previously, prowling about near the vessel, and 
running along over a frozen pond on an island. Its colour was 
white, the hairs of the back being tinged with black. 
~The Esquimo Dog (Canzs borealis) is very wolf-like. This 
variety of the dog is the domestic animal of the Innuit or 
Esquimo, and it would fare ill with him were it extinct. It draws 
his sleigh over the frozen sea, and over the snow inland. Its 
disposition is that of the dog of a savage, lacking the docility of 
our civilized varieties ; but it has little of the aggressive ferocity 
which, from descriptions, I anticipated it would have. It remains 
