1868.] MR. R. BROWN ON THE MAMMALS OF GREENLAND. 339 



say that it is limited to that division (for, as shown on the table, 

 many extend through several of these divisions), nor that they are 

 found over all that division or series of divisions or regions. I have 

 already explained that the range of each is limited according to its 

 habitat and habits. 



I have made these explanations because, as all rules are liable to 

 exceptions, so are systems and systematic divisions. Nature abhors 

 being confined between parallel lines. 



Under the division of " Nature of its Distribution in Greenland" 

 I have divided them into (a) Introduced species, (/i) Migratory 

 species, and (y) Species indigenous all the year round. 



((() In Fabricius's day the following Mammals had been introduced 

 into the country, but chiefly into South Greenland : — Canis famili- 

 arts (European breeds), Felis domestica, Ovis aries, Capra hircus. 

 Bos taurus, Sus scrofu, Mus decumanus, and Mus vmsculus. All of 

 these species are yet at times living in the countrj', but none of them 

 can be said to be acclimatized. The Horse {Nersasoak) was once 

 introduced into Greenland, but only remained for a short time. As 

 far as I can discover, its importation was for the purpose of Major 

 Oscean and Capt. Landorif, who in 1728 proposed the mad-cap 

 scheme of " riding across Greenland !" 



(/)) As the winter approaches, most of the birds leave the country, 

 and do not return again until spring. The terrestrial Mammals are 

 prohibited, by the insularity of the country, from resorting to this 

 method of escaping the rigours of the climate, or the scarcity of 

 food. The Bear to some extent hybernates, though, as I shall 

 afterwards show, this hybernation is not so complete as is usually 

 supposed. The migratory Mammals are therefore limited to the 

 marine species. 



All of the Seals, with the exception of Trichechus rosmarus, Cal- 

 locephabis vitulinus, and Fagomys fatidus, leave the coast during a 

 portion of the winter, and even of the summer : the migration of 

 the Seals is too complicated a subject to be discussed in a general 

 review ; under my notes on each species I shall have occasion to 

 recur to it. In like manner all the Cetacea leave the seas in the 

 V inter, with the exception of Monodon monoceros and Beluga cafo- 

 don, which can be seen at open places in the ice all the winter 

 through. Why these species should be winter denizens in prefer- 

 ence to the others it is difficult to decide. Several species have 

 what may be called a local migration, moving from one portion of 

 the coast to another, north and south, during the summer, according 

 to the state of the ice, &c., — all of which will be noticed in another 

 place. 



(y) The species indigenous all the year round are therefore 

 the terrestrial Mammals and the remainder of the marine species 

 not already mentioned as migratory, viz. Ursus maritinms, Canis 

 familiaris, var. borealis, Vulpes lagopus, Lepus glacialis, Myodes 

 torquatus, (?) Ovibos moschatus, Rangifer tarandus, Trichechus 

 rosmarus, Gallocephalus vitulinus, Fagomys foetidus, Monodon 

 monoceros, and Beluga catodon. 



