344 MR. R. BROWN ON THE MAMMALS OF GREENLAND. [May 28, 



two ill the sea, and, from our travels extending over but a limited 

 portion of the vicinity of Disco Bay, had but few opportunities of 

 adding to our knowledge of their habits. 



I was fortunate enough, however, to obtain the assistance of my 

 friends Herren Knud Gelmeyden Fleischer, Carl Bolbroe, and Oc- 

 tavius Neilsen, whose long acquaintance with the Eskimo language 

 enabled me to discover some of the errors which Fabricius fell into 

 in deciphering the mythical species ; and our inteUigent travelling 

 companion Hr. Anthon P. Tegner kindly gave me the benefit of his 

 experience. These notes I have incorporated in the body of this 

 paper at the proper place. 



I have also examined, through the kiudness of the curators, the 

 Greenland Mammals in the Copenhagen Museums, and those in the 

 Museum of Science and Art in Edinburgh, comprising many of the 

 the typical specimens of Scoresby, Richardson, &c. For this latter 

 favour my thanks are especially due to Professors Archer and All- 

 man and to Mr. J. B. Davies. 



1. Ursus maritimus, Linn. 



Groenl. Nennok (o guttural). 



The well-known "Polar" or "Ice Bear" is found along the 

 whole coast of Greenland from north to south, but not nearly so 

 numerous as in former times, or as is popularly supposed. There 

 are more in the northern than in the southern portion of the 

 country ; and it is very seldom seen in mid-Greenland, i. e. between 

 about 69° and 66° N. lat. There are yearly killed from thirty to 

 sixty of them. The Company of Royal Merchants in Greenland 

 give the natives about five rigsdaler (lis. 3c/.) for the skins. Occa- 

 sionally there are a number killed near Cape Farewell which have 

 come round on the annual ice-drift. Here a curious custom prevails, 

 viz., that whosoever sights the Bear first, man, woman, or child, 

 is entitled to the skin, and the person who has shot it only to the 

 blubber and flesh *. It is of light creamy colour, rarely pure 

 white, except when young ; hence the Scotch whalers call it the 

 "Brounie" or "Brownie," and sometimes the "Farmer," from its 

 very agricultural appearance as it stalks leisurely over the furrowed 

 fields of ice. Its principal food consists of Seals, which it perse- 

 cutes most indefatigably ; but it is somewhat omnivorous in its 

 diet, and will often clear an islet of eider-duck eggs in the course of a 

 few hours. I have seen it watch a Seal for half a day, the Seal con- 

 tinually escaping just as the Bear was about putting its paw on it, 

 at the " atluk" (or escape hole) in the ice. Finally, it tried to 

 circumvent its prey in another manner. It swam off to a distance, 

 and when the Seal was again half asleep at its atluk, the Bear swam 

 under the ice, with a view to cut off its retreat. It failed, how- 

 ever, and the Seal finally escaped. The rage of the animal was 



* The flesh, and especially the liver, is said to often prove poisonous when 

 eaten. The Eskimo on the western shores of Davis's Strait, carefully proliibit 

 their dogs from devouring any portion of it. 



