OCTOBER, 1902.] MAMMALS OF KEEWATIN. 65 



Polar bears oocur regularly all alonij- the ccjast of Keewatin as far 

 south at least as Sovern River, and probably to the head of James 

 Bay. Bell reports that a few have been seen at Mo(jse, Factory." 

 The female 'dens u])' in a snowdrift in the winter, brings fortli her 

 young about Mai'ch, and soon afterwards leads them to the sea. The 

 male is said to pass the winter at sea. The animals are frequently 

 seen during late summer swimming in the Bay, and Bell records that 

 one was killed by the captain of one of the Hudson's Bay Company ships 

 in open water about the middle of the Bay.* Polar bears Iia\'e been 

 met with by v^arious expeditions to the north of Hudson BaJ^ 



Lutra canadensis (Schreber). Canada Otter. 



Otter,s seem to be found throughout the region, as wo saw skins at 

 all of the posts visited. They are not found in the immediate vicinity 

 of Fort Churchill, but are said to be taken not far up the Churchill 

 River. Hearne states, probablj' referring to the interior, that they 

 used to frequent the rivers to the north of Churchill as far as latitude 

 62°.^ We frequently saw their tracks while we were ascending the 

 upper part of Hill River, and the Indians often spoke of the abundance 

 of otters in the vicinity. At York Factory we obtained the skin of a 

 young one about the size of a small mink and dull dark brown in color. 



Skulls composing a series recently obtained from Oxford House, 

 Norway House, and Cross Lake are apparentl)- not separable from skulls 

 from Godbout, Quebec,-assumed to be t3'pical canadeMlv. 



Mephitis mephitis (Schreber).'^ Canada Skunk. 



A large number of skins were seen in the storehouse at Norway 

 House, and the animal is occasional^ taken about Oxford House, 

 where we obtained a hunters' skin. 



While paddling up the channel between Wind}^ and J'ine lakes on 

 September 13 we saw a skunk swimming across the stream a hundred 

 yards in front of our canoe. On seeing us he redoubled his exertions, 

 but we overtook and shot him just as he reached the shore. This was 

 the only one seen on our trip. This specimen, as well as the Oxford 

 House skin, has been recorded by Howell." 



Dr. Bell gives the skunk as occurring on both sides of James Baj'.'* 

 Forster records one sent from Severn River by Mr. Graham.' Howell 

 records a specimen from Moose Factory."^ Among the large number 

 of skins at Norway House were several which seemed to be referable 

 to the Northern Plains skunk (J/, hiuhnnica). 



«Rept. Prog. Can. Geol. Surv., 1882-:i-4, App. II, p. 50DD (1885). 



6 Ibid., p. 50DD (1885). 



c Journey * * * to the Northern Ocean, p. 374, 1795. 



<«See Science (new ser.), XVI, Xo. 394, p. 114, July 18, 1902. 



«X. A. Fauna, No. 20, p. 23, 1901. 



/Phil. Trans., LXII, p. 374, 1772. 



7166— No. 22 5 



