Quadrupeds. 7775 



another thinner stick firmly planted on the ground ; a piece of wood 

 is laid across this stick, one end pressing the trigger, the other attached 

 to a line to the other extremity of which the bait is affixed. This line 

 is carried under the snow by boring holes in pieces of board and 

 passing it through them; this also prevents the animal from pulling 

 the bait out of the aim of the gun, which he discharges as soon as he 

 hauls upon the line to obtain the meat. Instances have been known 

 of wolves cutting the line close to the trigger of the gun, after which 

 they eat the bait in safety. 



By poison : — In this case strychnine is used, which is an infallible 

 method, though the animals sometimes go to such a distance that it is 

 difficult to follow their tracks; and if a fall of snow come after they 

 have eaten the bait their bodies are often lost. About two grains are 

 required to kill a wolf quickly. But I will defer the detailed account 

 of the effect of strychnine on wild animals until I write the article upon 

 foxes. 



Esquimaux Dog {Cams familiaris, var. horealis) and Hare Indian 

 Dog (var. lagopus). — Size of both about that of a pointer. Ears small 

 and pointed. Head qroad between ears, and tapering towards muzzle. 

 Colour varied, but whites and grays predominate. Hair long and fine 

 mixed, with thick under fur. Tail long aud bushy. General ap- 

 pearance that of a wolf. 



In comprising the Hare Indian and Esquimaux dogs among the 

 fur-bearing animals of this district, T am perfectly aware that, in a com- 

 mercial point of view, they are not included among them ; still, from 

 their wild nature, as well as their long and thick fur, I consider that I 

 may with strict propriety class them in the branch of Natural History 

 upon which these notices treat. I should also wish to point out a few 

 errors into which previous writers on these animals have fallen, as well 

 as to submit to the philosophical world some of the results of my 

 experiments and investigations in this branch of animated nature. 



The Esquimaux dog (var. horealis) is found, as its name implies, 

 among the Husky tribes of the Arctic coast. It is of considerable size, 

 muscular and well-proportioned. The ears are small and pointed, and 

 with a good breadth of skull between them ; the muzzle is long aud 

 sharp ; the eyes are placed at angles, not horizontally ; the fur is deep 

 and thick ; the tail bushy; the feet broad and well covered ; and the 

 colour is generally pure white, though other shades are not un- 

 common. 



It is said, with what correctness I cannot venture to say, that the 



