THE ARCTIC FOX. 25^ 



Selves In that substance, where they lie as long as it 

 continues of a sufficient depth. They swim across 

 the rivers with great agility. Besides what the sea 

 casts up, or what is destroyed by other beasts, they 

 seize the Sea- fowl, by night, on the clifts, where 

 it has settled to sleep ; but, on the contrary, they 

 are themselves frequently victims to the birds of 

 prey. — Though now found in such numbers on this 

 island, they were probably conveyed thither from 

 the continent, on the drift-ice ; and being afterwards 

 nourished by the great quantity of animal substan- 

 ces thrown ashore by the sea, they became thus 

 enormously multiplied." 



We are informed by Mr. Crantz, that the Arctic 

 Foxes exert an extraordinary degree of cunning in 

 their mode of obtaining Fish for prey. They go 

 into the water, and make a splash with their feet, 

 in order to disturb the scaly tribes ; and when these 

 come up, immediately seize them» He says that 

 in imitation of these animals, the Greenland wo- 

 men have adopted the same method with success *. 

 — Charlevoix, apparently alluding to this species, 

 says that they exert an almost incredible degree of 

 cunning in entrapping the different kinds of Water- 

 fowl. They advance a little way into the water ; 

 and afterwards retire, playing a thousand antic tricks 

 on the banks. The Fowl approach ; and on their 

 coming near, the Fox ceases, that he may not 

 alarm them, only moving about his tail very gently : 

 the former are said to be so foolish as to come up 



* Hist, of Greenland. 

 S2 



