I HI 



By four different fpecimens in that valuable col- 

 lection of animals, which the directors of the Hud- 

 fon's Bay Company have lately procured from a 

 country unviiited but by their own iervants, it ap- 

 pears that the change begins in October (or perhaps 

 the latter end of September) and that it is compieat- 

 ed in January. 



We owe this knowledge of the regular grada- 

 tions of colour in this animal at different intervals 

 as the winter advances, to the very fenfible attention 

 m the company's fervants, who have tied memoran- 

 dums to the fpecimen of each animal, which in- 

 form us of the day and month in which it was 

 caught. 



If the fur of your quadruped is accurately exa- 

 mined, it will be found to confirl of two diftinct 

 coats of hair, one of which is much more thinly 

 fcattered over the body, but is more than twice the 

 length of the inmoff covering, at the fame time that 

 it is vaftly If ronger. 



This upper and thinner coat is compofed alio of 

 hairs which aKe white from the top to the root,,, and 

 form the winter furtout for the animal : its brown fur, 

 therefore, never becomes white, but is concealed by 

 the upper coat. 



This additional covering feems to be. abfolutely 

 neceffary for the animal's prefervation, as it is there- 

 by enabled to endure the rigour of a Hudfon's Bay 

 winter, whilft at the fame time the colour of the 

 new fur being white, prevents its being. difhnguiflied 

 by its very numerous enemies [#].- 



If this furtout, however, wab not to fall off during, 

 the fummer, it would prove the deilruCoi of the 



animal •• 



