& RC TACs IFO. X& 
Thofe found om Bering’s and Copper-ifles were probably brought: 
from the Afiatic fide on floating ice: Steller having feen in the re-- 
moter iflands only the black and brown foxes: and the fame only on: 
the continent of America. They burrow in the earth, and form holes. 
many feet in length; ftrewing the bottom with mofs... But im Spitz- 
bergen and Greenland, where the ground is.eternally frozen, they live in 
the cliffs of rocks: two or three inhabit the fame hole. They fwim 
well, and often crofs from ifland to ifland in fearch of prey... They 
are in heat about Ledy-day ; and during that time continue in the 
open air: after that, retreat to their earths. Like dogs, continue united 
in copulation: bark like them: for which reafon the Rufians call 
them Péfzti.. They couple in Greenland in March, and again in: 
May; and bring forth in April-and in Fune*.. 
They are tame and inoffenfive animals; and fo fimple, that there 
are inftances of their ftanding by when the trap was baiting, and in- 
ftantly after putting their heads into it. They are killed for the fake 
of their fkins, both.in 4fa and Hudfon’s. Bay: the fur is light and: 
warm, but not durable. Mr. Graham informed me, that they have: 
appeared in. fuch numbers about the fort, that he-has taken, in. dif-- 
ferent ways,, four huadred from. December to March.. He likewife- 
affured me, that the tips of their tails are always black; thofe of the: 
common foxes always. white: and that he never. could trace the- 
breeding-places of the former. 
The Greenlanders take them either in pitfalls dug in the {now, and’ 
baited with the Capelin fifth; or in fprings made-with whale-bone, , 
laid over a hole made in the fnow, ftrewed over at bottom with: 
the fame kind of fifth; or in traps made like little huts; with flat - 
ftones, with a broad one by way of door, which falls down (by 
means of a ftring baited on the infide with a piece of flefh) whenever - 
the fox enters and pulls at itt. The Greenlanders preferve the fkins.. 
for trafhe; and in cafes of neceffity eat the flefh.. They alfo_make- 
* Fauns Groenl, 20. }. Crantz, i, 72. 
buttons. 
