[ 37* i 



XXVIII. Account of feveral Quadrupeds 

 from Hudfon's Bay * 5 by Mr. John Rein- 

 hold Forfter, R R. S. 



Read May 21, 1772. 



i. Arctic Fox, Perm. Synopf. of Quadr. p. 155. 

 n. 113. Cams Lagopus, Linn. 



Severn River. 



A mofl beautiful fpecimen in its fnowy winter 

 furr; this animal fcems to be lower on its legs 

 than the common fox, and is prodigioufly well 

 fecurcd againft the intenfe cold of the climate, 

 by the thicknefs and length of its hairs, 

 which are at the fame time as foft as filk. 



* Among; the occsfiona] advantages, which the obfervations 

 of the laft Tranfit of Venus have procured, that of receiving 

 ufeful inform itions from, and fettlma; correfpondencies in, feve- 

 ral f.aits of the world, is not the leaft coniiderable. From the 

 factory at HuJfon's Bay, the Royal Society were favoured with 

 a large collccli m of uncommon quadrupeds, birds, fifties, &c. 

 togetner with fomc account of their names, place of abode, 

 manner of life, ufes, by Mr. Graham, a gentleman belonging 

 to the fettiement on Severn River ; and the governors of the 

 Hudfon's Bay Company have moil obligingly fent orders, that 

 thefe communications fhould be from time to time continued. 

 The defcriptions contained in the following papers weie pre- 

 pared and given by Mr. Forfter, before his departure on an ex- 

 pedition, which will probably open an ample field to the moft 

 important difcoverie;.. M. M. 



The 



