ANIMAL LIFE 



To a great extent the vegetation controls the distribution of 

 animals. The mosses, lichens, grasses, and shrubs of the tundra 

 provide food for the migrating herds of reindeer, caribou, and 

 musk-oxen. The lemming, ermine, and arctic hare are found in 

 abundance. These animals, together with the flesh-eating foxes 

 and wolves, move northward in the summer, perhaps motivated by 

 the appearance of the infinite number of mosquitos which breed in 

 the water-soaked lands. The white fox, one of the most valuable 

 of northern animals for its fur, ranges along the arctic coast, living 

 on small birds and lemmings. 



Figure 2-6. — The white fox lives on small birds and lemmings. 



In winter both the arctic fox and the white fox migrate north 

 onto the sea-ice. Here they live off partially eaten seals which the 

 polar bear have killed and on gulls and wild duck. Wolves follow 

 the caribou herds which are their chief source of food. The wolves 

 range over the tundra from the tree-line to the arctic shore, rarely 

 going out onto the sea-ice. They usually hunt alone or in pairs, 

 and not in the much talked about multitudinous packs. 



Bear are found throughout the Arctic. The polar bear, whose 

 fur is yellowish white in color, is usually found along the coast of 

 the continents or on the islands. They rely on seals for their food 

 supply and therefore stay in the vicinity of the sea-ice where seals 

 are most likely to be. Wherever the bear go, the white fox will be 

 close behind since it depends on the polar bear to kill its food. 

 The gulls also feed on the seal carcasses left by the bear. 



The sea is particularly rich in flora and fauna, especially in pro- 

 tected areas and where warm water mixes with cold. These 

 organisms, shell fish and small fish provide food for the larger 

 animals, such as whales, seals, walrus, and the many birds. 



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