MAMMALS OF NORTHEEN CANADA 191 



1869, they had nearly recovered and were able, with the 

 others, to make daily runs of several miles at a very good 

 pace. The improvement continued, and i think they be- 

 came almost as strong and untiring as ever. Some of the fort 

 residents all along asserted that they could not recover fully 

 or stand the long journey; but I, who had much previous 

 knowledge of their staying powers, was of a different opinion, 

 and the result proved that I was right. 



Haee IiYDiAN Dog — Canis lagopus (Richardson). 



This animal is more or less typical of the indigenous 

 Indian dog of the far north of Canada. It is not so stout 

 or strong as the Eskimo dog, but many individuals can en- 

 dure a vast amount of hardship in the shape of heavy sleigh 

 and packing work with but little to eat. It is even more 

 necessary for the Indians, especially the so-called " Caribou 

 Eaters " (as the latter move and travel about in winter, fol- 

 lowing the reindeer) than is the case with their brethren 

 who subsist chiefly on fish, rabbits, beaver, and moose. The 

 Eskimos, with the exception of roving traders from the west 

 and Alaskan coast of North America, do not make any very 

 extensive excursions during the winter season. In birth, 

 traits, habits, and liability to epidemics there are no material 

 differences between it and Canis familiaris borealis, nor, for 

 that matter, with the rather mongrel breed or introduced 

 varieties of hauling dogs used by the Company, mission- 

 aries, and the " freemen " of the interior. I might also men- 

 tion that I have heard of one or two instances of English 

 distemper having appeared among inland dogs. 



Red Fox — Ceoss Fox — Silver Fox — ^Black Fox 

 Vulpes (Sps.). 



The natives consider the foregoing as belonging to one 

 and the same species (the common red fox), an opinion 

 generally, but not universally, accepted by naturalists and 

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