ARCTIC FOX» 
273 
under ground, in holes many feet in length, the 
bottom of which they line with moss. In Green- 
land and Spitzbergen, they live in the clefts of 
the rocks, not being able to burrovr, by reason 
of the frost. Two or three inhabit the same hole. 
They are in heat about Lady-day, and continue 
during that time in the open air ; they afterw ards 
take to their holes, and go with young nine weeks, 
like dogs, which they resemble in other respects 
also. The Russians, indeed, call them dogs ; 
but they have all the cunning of the common fox, 
aiid prey on the young of geese, ducks, and other 
water-fowl before they can fly ; on the grouse and 
hares of the country ; on the eggs of birds ; and 
in Greenland, through necessity, on berries, shell- 
fish, or any thing the sea throws out ; hut their 
principal food in the north of Asia, and in Lap- 
land, is the leming, or Lapland rat ; and hence, 
they are very migratory, following the leraing, a 
very wandering animal. Sometimes these foxes 
desert the country for three or four years, pro- 
bably as long as they can find prey. The people in 
Jensea suppose they go to the banks of the Oby. 
They are taken in traps, and often the glutton and 
great owl destroy them before the hunter can take 
them out. They are killed for their fur ; which 
is light and warm, but not durable : the blue 
skins are the best. 
They are the hardiest of animals, and will pur- 
sue their prey during the long, dreary, polar win- 
ter s. 
Steller has given us an ample and entertaining 
description of their manners. 
€ f During my unfortunate abode/' says he, on 
Bering's island, I had but too many opportuni- 
ties of studying the nature of these animals ; which 
far exceed the common fox in impudence, cunning, 
and roguery. The narrative of the innumerable 
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