NOTE ON THE MAMMALIA OF KOLGUEV 
THERE is no rodent on the island. I had expected to find AMyodes 
lemmus 1L., the Western Lemming, but it was not there. Equally 
surprising was the absence of Lepus variabilis L., the Arctic Hare. 
The Samoyeds had never known of an instance of the occurrence of 
either of these animals. 
The theory of the recent origin of Kolguev gains in evidence from this 
fact. For the extent of water or ice between the mainland and Kolguev 
is sufficient to prevent the passage of both of these creatures. 
We were so little by the sea that my notes on the whales are of small 
value, and the same applies to the seals. The seals which most 
commonly occur are apparently Phoca grenlandica Nilss., the Greenland 
Seal, which the Samoyeds call Merz, and Ph. vitulina L., the Common 
Seal—/Vivk in the Samoyed. Kolguev does not seem to be a very 
good sealing-ground. The Russian traders took from the Samoyeds 
very few skins. But these natives obtain sufficient for their own 
requirements. On Kolguev boots, gloves, and harness (except the 
saddle and collar) are made of seal-skin. Seal-skin also takes the place 
of rope; for thongs of considerable length are obtained by cutting a 
continuous strip round and round the animal’s body. 
Trichechus rosmarus L. Walrus. 
Morse (R.). Di-a-li-eh (S.). 
The walrus is only taken by the most adventurous of the natives. 
Their boats are really not fit for this hunting, nor for going up to the 
ice. Only two walrus were killed last year. 
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