October, 1902,] MAMMALS OF KEEWATIN. 7l 



visited. A long line of surprising strength is made by cutting the 

 skin of the animal in a spiral manner. 



Dr. Bell saw skins of the bearded seal in the possession of the Eski- 

 mos in Hudson Strait in 1SS4, and a few of the animals were observed 

 bj' his party. He also saw bearded seals on the Eastmain coast in 

 1877, and killed a large one at the mouth of Moose River." J. C. 

 Ross reported the species to be found in summer on the shores of 

 Boothia.'' 



Phoca vitulina Linn. Harbor Seal. 



Doubtless found in all parts of the Ba}'^. We saw it in numbers all 

 along the coast visited, especially at the mouth of Churchill River. 

 We saw one August 28, several miles above York Factory, as we were 

 ascending Hayes River. A specimen of a rather small female that 

 measured 1,500 mm. in length was secured 50 miles south of Cape 

 Eskimo August 11. Its general color is light yellowish, irregularly 

 and obscurel}' spotted on the back with brownish. 



Neosorex palustris (Richardson). Marsh Shrew. 



This species is represented in our collection by a series of seven col- 

 lected between Echimamish River and the upper portion of Hill 

 River. We trapped them in the grassy margins of marshes or in 

 wooded swamps. As this series showa considerable variation in color 

 some of the specimens may be noted in detail. Four taken at Robin- 

 son Portage June 27 agree very closely in color — back dusky, very 

 finely flecked with silvery white; beneath grayish white with a tinge 

 of brown, grading insensibly on sides into color of upperparts; throat 

 and chin noticeably lighter than remainder of lower parts, this light 

 color sharpljr divided from the dusky of the face; inner surface of 

 forelegs and fringes of feet silvery white; tail rather sharply bicolored 

 nearly to tip; hind feet dark on outer side, lighter on inner side. A 

 specimen taken on Hill River, near Swampj^ Lake, September 6, 

 agrees closely with the June specimens. One taken at Robinson Port- 

 age September 11 is evidently in winter pelage, the fur being very soft 

 and full, and glossy black dorsally, much darker than the June speci- 

 mens. One taken on Echimamish River September 15 agrees with 

 the June specimens dorsally, but the ventral surface is strongly 

 clouded with brownish. The skulls, compared with skulls from Min- 

 nesota and South Edmonton, Alberta, assumed to be typical palustriK, 

 show no diflferences of value. 



The series shows little variation in size. The seven specimens aver- 

 age: Total length 157.3; tail vertebne 72; hind foot 19.4. A speci- 

 men received from Mr. J. K. MacDonald, of Norway House, who 

 obtained it from the Indians, is in full winter pelage. It resembles 



a Kept. Prog. Can. Geol. Surv., 1882-3-i, App. II, p. 52DD (1885). 

 ^ Appendix to Ross's Second Voyage, p. xxi, 1835. 



