MAMMALS AND BIRDS OF PRINCE OF WALES SOUND. 119 



Portions of what undoubtedly were the skeletons of thi'ee of these 

 animals were found on the shore, and the Eskimo informed me that 

 at one time, when there were more of their people living here, they 

 would not hesitate to surround one of these huge monsters in their 

 kyaks, and with harpoon and floats would sometimes succeed in 

 killing one. 

 Narwhal (Monodon Monoceros, Linn), ( Uglung-war Esk). 



Commonly known as the Unicorn, the Narwhal is often met with 

 in the Strait, and is much valued for its large ivory tusk which often 

 measures five feet in length. Only one of these animals was seen 

 late in the summer, and the lemains of another were found on the 

 shoj-e, the tusk of which measured four and a half feet. ^ 



White Whale (Beluga Catodon [L.} Gray), ( Kelkluak, Esk). 



The white whale, though indigenous to the Strait, does not come 

 near the coast until the ice begins to open, the first seen being on 

 April 26th, when there was some opeii water about five miles from 

 the shore. From this time they were often seen throughout the 

 summer, sometimes singly, but oftener in small schools following the 

 line of the coast. Then the Eskimo may be seen standing motion- 

 less at some prominent point, with gun ready waiting patiently for a 

 shot. To one accustomed to extremely quick shooting, a white whale 

 might seem an easy mark to hit, but with the inexperienced, to make 

 the best of it, the bullet never seems to strike anything else than 

 the place where the whales head was. 



During the summer this animal forms a large part of the Eskimo's 

 food, and is eagerly hunted by them. 



BIRDS. 

 Stone Chat (Saxicola oenanthe L.). 



This is perhaps the most valuable zoological specimen taken during 

 my stay in the Strait. It was the only one seen, and is described 

 by Mr. Whiteaves, Palseontogist of the G-eological and Natural 

 History Survey of Canada, who identified all the birds in my collec- 

 tion, as being an adult male of a European species not previously 

 recorded as occurring in Canada, though found in Greenland, 



This active little bird wffs shot after a long chase on May 19th. 

 Shore Lark (Ereinophila Alpestris, Forster). 



Arrived May 17th, mating June 1st, young fledged July 15th, 

 was last seen on August 10th. This bird was very numerous during 

 the summer. 



