2^4 
CARNIVORA. 
Ross, when on his voyage of discovery. During and 
until near the conclusion of the process of the mu- 
tation of its colour, the animal looks very rough and 
ragged; but when the change is completed, the 
colour is uniform, as is represented during summer, 
and of a pure white in winter. In summer it is 
sometimes observed to have a dorsal line of a darker 
colour, with transverse stripes on the shoulders, 
whence it has, occasionally, been identified with the 
cross fox. The paws are entirely covered with long 
hairs ; those on the other parts of the body are about 
two inches in length. 
But it is not without hesitation, that the figure of 
Captain Rosses fox is inserted under the name of 
lagopus, Its general make and appearance approach 
nearer the common fox than to the common Arctic 
species ; but in its colours, and their change, it is 
assimilated to the latter. 
There is also a variable fox, an inhabitant of the 
Arctic regions, which has the tips of the ears and 
tail black, like those of the variable hare. 
A beautiful black species is also sometimes seen, 
which is distinct both from the cams lycaon of Lin^ 
nseus and the cams argentatus of Geoffroy. 
