The Arctic Hare. — The Lemming. 185 



•cause ; for we remember that the foxes of Leopold Harbour, in 

 1848, soon ascertained the fact of the warmth thrown out by the 

 squadron under Sir James Ross, and wisely burrowed and bred in 

 the embankments thrown up around the ships. 



Winter, with its sore trials, has of course its limits ; and it is 

 astonishing how early in the new year relief comes to the harassed 

 reindeer. In February and March the seals are breeding, and 

 their helpless young are luscious morsels, that now commence to 

 distract the attention of. all the beasts of prey — none more than 

 the wolf — the reindeer's h^Jidays then commence : indeed, we must 

 always remember that the arctic hare and lemming likewise winter 

 in the far north/ and yield occasional meals to wolf and fox. 



As spring advances, the herds gradually disperse, and the deer 

 may then be seen in twos or threes, until as I have before said, the 

 autumn again approaches. McClure's Discovery, page 296, 



•6. The arctic hare (^Lepus Glacialis) collects in herds or troops 

 during the fall of the year, in the same manner as the deer. Two 

 hundred of them have been seen at a time ; and at one of their 

 favourite haunts. Cape Dundas, Melville Island, a complete high 

 way, three yards broad, was seen, the tread of their numbers having 

 beaten the snow perfectly hard. In winter they burrow under the 

 snow for protection, as well as to seek their food. Captain 

 M^Clintock says, " they are every where found, but of course most 

 numerous where the pasture is most abundant, as on Banks Land 

 and Melville Island." The sportsmen of the "Resolute" and 

 *' Intrepid" shot 161 hares in a twelve month on the latter Island • 

 their average weight when fit for the table was 71bs. and from lOlbs. 

 to 12lbs. with skin and offal. During summer the hare, as well as 

 the lemming, seeks protection from beasts of prey under large bould- 

 ers of rock or m the face of rocky ravines. The hares in summer have 

 seen in groups of from twelve to twenty in number. Their skin 

 is so delicate that although the winter fur is very beautiful, and 

 the colour a brilliant white, it eannot be applied to any useful 

 purpose. They do not hybernate, and, strange to say the Investi- 

 •gators generally found them amongst the heavy hummocks of the 

 tloe-ice in Mercy Bay, as if flying to that rugged ground from the 

 wolves or foxes. They diff"er from the European hare, in bringing 

 forth five or seven young at a birth. Mc Clure's Discovery page 

 31Y. 



That interesting Utile creature^ o^ the order Eodentia, the arctic 

 lemming. {Myodus Lemmus)—^ perfect diamond edition of the 



