18 R. BROWN ON THE MAMMALS OF GREENLAND. 



Sitka, the western shores of Davis's Strait, and from Greenland 

 which it was impossible to deny were of one species. 



(/3) Besides this there is, in Danish Greenland, another breed of 

 Dogs of mixed native and European descent, the latter being im- 

 ported by the whites. These are called by the natives " Meeke." 

 I have not the slightest doubt that the original breed of the Arctic 

 Dog was the Wolf (^Canis occidentalis, var. griseo-alba^ Baird). In 

 its every disposition it agrees with that animal, and there is no 

 point which has been supposed to separate the one from the other 

 which is not common to both of them. I have seen skins of the 

 Wolf which have hair for hair agreed with the typical Arctic Dog. 

 The Wolf is not, however, found in Greenland, unless, as I shall 

 afterwards discuss, the " amorok," which Fabricius erroneously 

 described in his fauna as Ursus luscus, be merely a Dog run wild 

 and returned to its original type. The Dog is found as far north 

 as man lives, but is not used by the Eskimo south of Holsteens- 

 borg, the sea not being sufficiently frozen over during the winter 

 to permit of sledging. The use of the Dog as a sledge-animal has 

 been so often described * that I may pass it over here without 

 further reference. Being only required during the winter, they 

 lead during the summer and autumn months an idle life, hanging 

 round the settlements, sleeping on the top of the flat earth-huts of 

 their masters, snarHng at every one's heels, but running at the 

 first appearance of a stick or stone, snatching up every bit of 

 edible garbage round a village, and, in fact, becoming such a pest 

 to the women when dressing a Seal on the rocks, or when drying 

 meat for winter use, that they are often left to look out for them- 

 selves on some barren uninhabited islet. During the summer they 

 are never fed ; and often you may pass old Eskimo encampments 

 where the only inhabitants are a few hungry dogs howling from 

 the rock, disconsolate until their lords return. The appearance 

 of a stone is enough to send them howling far and near. It is 

 rarely that they bark, generally preferring, with their wolfish 

 instinct, to sit and howl monotonously on some elevated point, and 

 regularly "making night horrible" with their "long cry." The 

 ringing of the workmen's morning and evening bell at the Danish 

 settlements used to be the signal for the commencement of this 

 hyperborean music. This dog can only be kept in subjection 

 by the most unmerciful lashing ; for its savage nature will 

 out. When at Clyde River in 1861 I heard of a most horrible 

 tragedy which had been enacted there a few years before. A 

 man, a boy, and a little girl landed from an omiak (or open skin 

 boat) on an island where, as is usual, some dogs were confined. 

 Before the poor people could escape to their boat, the animals, 

 infuriated by hunger, sprang upon them. The man and the boy, 

 though much lacerated, luanaged to regain the omiak ; but the poor 

 girl was torn to pieces. 



When the Greenland dogs die off", the Greenlander must become 

 extinct, more certainly even than must the " Plain " Indian when 



* Vide particularly Kane, "Arctic Explorations;" and Hayes, "Voyage 

 towards the open Polar Sea." 



