ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
87 
explorers, Kane and Rae ; both of whom made frequent use of 
them, in scouring those inhospitable wastes in search of the 
missing Franklin and his crew ; had he been provided with 
those necessary appendages of Arctic travel, we should not 
have the mournful detail recorded by the natives to Dr. Rae 
in 1854, “ that a band of forty white men dragging their sledges 
along the coast of King William’s land were making appa- 
rently for the great Fish River ; that all, even with one who 
seemed to be an officer, were dragging on the haul ropes of 
the sledge.” Both these explorers speak in the highest terms 
of the assistance these dogs afforded to their party ; and from 
Dr. Kane the writer gleaned what knowledge he has of their 
habits. Snow he stated to be their substitute for water ; and 
on a lump of it, or ice given to those he brought to New 
York with him, they would roll with the greatest delight. 
The snow he observed they did not lick up, but by repeatedly 
pressing with the nose, they would obtain a small lump or ball 
of it, which they then drew into the mouth with their tongue. 
The following account is given of the habits and disposition 
of one of these dogs by its owner : u Even if coaxed and fed 
by a stranger, he had so strong an attachment to his master, 
that he would merely take the food without returning thanks 
either by looks or wag of the tail. He never barked, and 
would snap at those he did not like, without a growl or the 
least notice. He was remarkably cunning, resembling in 
that respect the fox, for he was in the habit of strewing his 
meat around him to induce fowls or rats to come within his 
reach, Avhile he lay watching, but pretending to be asleep, 
and when near enough he would pounce upon them, never 
missing his aim.” 
The Fox ( Canis Vulpes ), when compared with the dog 
family, is found to be lower in height, in proportion to its 
length. 
Description. — Its nose is sharp, limbs slender, tail bushy 
and long, reaching to the ground. This family, generally 
