1868.] MR. R. BROWN ON THE MAMMALS OF GREENLAND. 347 



American continent ; at least, I have seen dogs from Kamschatka, 

 Sitka, the western shores of Davis's Strait, and from Greenland which 

 it was impossible to deny were of one species. 



(/3) Besides this there is, in Danish Greenland, another breed of 

 Dogs of mixed native and European descent, the latter being im- 

 ported by the whites. These are called by the natives " Meeke." 

 I have not the slightest doubt that the original breed of the Arctic 

 Dog was the \Yo\{ (Canis occidentalis, var. griseo-albus, Baird). In 

 its every disposition it agrees with that animal, and there is no point 

 which has been supposed to separate the one from the other which 

 is not common to both of them. I have seen skins of the Wolf 

 which have hair for hair agreed with the typical Arctic Dog. The 

 Wolf is not, however, found in Greenland, unless, as I shall after- 

 wards discuss, the " Amarok," which Fabricius erroneously described 

 in his fauna as Vrsus luscus, be merely a Dog run wild and returned 

 to its original type. The Dog is found as far north as man lives, 

 but is not used by the Eskimo south of Holsteensborg, the sea not 

 being sufficiently frozen over during the winter to permit of sledging. 

 The use of the Dog as a sledge-animal has been so often described* 

 that I may pass it over here without further reference. Being only 

 required during the winter, they lead during the summer and au- 

 tumn months an idle life, hanging round the settlements, sleeping 

 on the top of the flat earth-huts of their masters, snarling at every 

 one's heels, but running at the first appearance of a stick or stone, 

 snatching up every bit of edible garbage round a village, and, in 

 fact, becoming such a pest to the women when pressing a seal 

 on the rocks, or when drying meat for winter use, that they are 

 often left to look out for themselves on some barren uninhabited 

 islet. During the summer they are never fed ; and often you may 

 pass old Eskimo encampments where the only inhabitants are a few 

 hungry dogs howling from the rock, disconsolate until their lords 

 return. The appearance of a stone is enough to send them howling 

 far and near. It is rarely that they bark, generally preferring, with 

 their wolfish instinct, to sit and howl monotonously on some elevated 

 point, and regularly " making night horrible " with their " long 

 cry." The ringing of the workmen's morning and evening bell at 

 the Danish settlements used to be the signal for the commencement 

 of this hyperborean music. It can only be kept in subjection by 

 being treated to the most unmerciful lashing; for its savage nature 

 will out. When at Clyde River in 1861 I heard of a most horrible 

 tragedy which had been enacted there a few years before. A man, 

 a boy, and a little girl landed from an omiak (or open skin boat) 

 on an island where, as is usual, some dogs were confined. Before 

 the poor people could escape to their boat, the animals, infuriated 

 by hunger, sprang upon them. The man and the boy, though 

 much lacerated, managed to regain the omiak ; but the poor girl was 

 torn to pieces. 



When the Greenland dogs die off, the Greenlander must become 



* Vide particularly Kane, 'Arctic Explorations,' and Hayes, 'Voyage towards 

 the open Polar Sea.' 



