218 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[no. .27. 



were secured in numbers also near Fort Resolution and Fort Rae. 

 At the former post about 200 were traded, the greater number prob- 

 ably coming from the eastern part of the lake. 



During our summer explorations in the Mackenzie region we 

 penetrated only slightly into the summer home of this animal. 

 Tracks of small foxes were numerous on the sandy shores of Mac- 

 Tavish Bay late in August, 1903, and quantities of discarded winter 

 fur, then of a dirty white color, and the testimony of the natives, 

 proved this to be the species concerned. 



At Fort Norman I learned that usually about 100 skins are traded 

 during a season, only the white phase being known there. These 

 skins are taken mainly by the Great Bear Lake Indians. Many 

 white skins are annually traded at Fort Good Hope, but the blue 

 phase is rarely obtained there. White foxes were said to be rather 

 common in the vicinity of the post during the winter of 1901-2. 

 At Fort McPherson a great many are traded annually, mainly from 

 the Eskimo, and in winter the species occurs rather commonly in 

 the immediate vicinity. The blue phase is comparatively rare there, 

 occurring probably in a proportion of less than 1 to 10. Skins in the 

 blue phase seen at that post were of a nearly uniform color through- 

 out — a rather dark plumbeous with a slight brownish tinge. 



During Parry's first voyage this animal was found to inhabit all 

 the islands of the Polar Sea which were visited, and was ascertained 

 to remain on Melville Island throughout the year.^ One taken at 

 Winter Harbor, October 29, 1819, is said by Fisher to have been 

 perfectly white.^ The species was observed at Point Turnagain 

 during Franklin's first journey.^ J. C. Ross recorded some taken at 

 Port Bowen in the winter of 1824-25; one in the sooty phase was 

 taken in November.^ He later stated that the species was common 

 at Felix Harbor, and that the average weight of 20 males was 7 

 pounds 4 ounces.^ Osborn occasionally saw the animals on the 

 northern shores of Prince of Wales Land in the spring of 1851.^ 

 Sutherland mentions one taken on October 17, 1850, at Assistance 

 Bay, Cornwallis Land.^' McCormick records a large male weighing 

 8 pounds, taken on December 2, 1852, at Beechey Island ; tracks were 

 seen on North Devon near Cape Osborn, and one of the animals w^as 

 observed August 31 near Baring Bay.^* M'Clintock records the 



® Suppl. to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. clxxxvii, 1824, 



^ Journal Voyage of Discovery, p. 148, 1821. 



^ Narrative Journey to Polar Sea, p. 387, 1823. 



d Parry's Third Voyage, Appendix, pp. 92, 93, 1826. 



Appendix to Ross's Second Voyage, p. xi, 1835. 

 f Arctic Journal, p. 220, 1852. 

 s Journal Voyage to Baffin Bay, I, p. 411, 1852. 



Mccormick's Voyages, II, pp. 63, 120, 142, 1884. 



