October, 1902.] MAMMALS OF KEEWATIN. 59 



Erethizon dorsatum (Linn.). Canada Porcupine. 



The porcupine occurs throughout the region between Lake Winni- 

 peg and Hudson Bay, but is nowhere abundant. In a country where 

 the life of the native is a constant struggle for food, the ease with 

 wlaich this animal is taken is a sufficient reason for its scarcit}'. 



According to Hearne, the porcupine was formerly found north of 

 Churchill River, but was scarce." Bell says: 



Jlr. Isbister, of the Nelson Kiver House on the Churchill, informs me that it was 

 once abmadant there. It is rare between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson's Bay, but an 

 individual is occasionally found as far north as York Factory. ^ 



Forster recorded it from Severn River.'' Dr. Milne informed me 

 that he had known it to occur but once at York Factory, but that it is 

 reported by the Indians to be common in certain places about the 

 headwaters of the Shaniattawa. 



Lepus americanus Erxleben. Hudson Bay Varying Hare. 



This species is quite generally distributed throughout the region 

 between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson Ba}'. Unmistakable evidences 

 of its presence were observed all along our route. We obtained a pair 

 of adults and two immature specimens at Oxford House early in Julj'. 

 At York Factory the animal was stated to be rather uncommon. Bell 

 reports it to be common some years in the neighborhood of Fort 

 Churchill.'' 



An adult female taken at Oxford House July 1 is yellowish gray 

 dorsal ly, much flecked with black, which predominates along center 

 of back; color of sides extending down on upper part of thighs; head 

 and face yellowish brown; outer side of legs yellowish fawn; inner 

 side of legs dull white; upper side of feet dull white, slightly tinged 

 with yellowish. A male taken at Oxford House July 3 has much 

 less dusky on the back, and the back and sides are much sufiused with 

 graj'ish fawn. The measurements of these specimens are as follows: 

 Male: Total length 430; hind foot 117; female: Total length -ISO; tail 

 vertebrte iS; hind foot 133. Skull of female: Occipito-nasal length 

 74; zj'gomatic breadth 36; breadth across postorbital processes 25; 

 length of nasals 30.5; breadth of nasals 26.5. 



Lepus arcticus canus subsp. nov. Keewatin Arctic Hare. 



Ti/jH'. from Barren Grounds near Hubbart Point, about 7.5 miles north of Fort 

 Churchill, Keewatin. $ yg. ad. (skin and skull), Xo. 106860, U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., Biological Survey collection. Collected August 17, 1900, by Edward 

 A. Preble. Original number, 3347. 



General Characters. — Difl'ering from Lepas arcticus in assuming a 



"Journey * * * to the Northern Ocean, p. 381, 1795. 



6 Kept. Prog. Can. Geol. Surv. 1882-3-4, App. II, p. 49DD (1885). 



<;Phil. Trans., LXII, p. 374, 1772. 



(iRept. Prog. Can. Geol. Surv., 1882-3-4, App. II, p. 49DD (1885). 



