54 
Eighty-nine specimens of trimucronatus were obtained by the present 
writer at nearly all seasons and from various localities, from cape Dorset 
and Amadjuak bay on the south to Ponds and Admiralty inlets on the 
north. With the summer and winter specimens grouped apart, it is 
difficult to detect any difference between the pelages of the adults of the 
two seasons. The following is a description of a specimen (No. 6102 $ ) 
taken October 27, 1925, and answers equally well for an adult taken in 
late June. Nose to middle of back, yellowish grey liberally sprinkled with 
black hairs; followed by an area of warm buff extending from side to side; 
rump from bright chestnut to a rusty, cinnamon colour terminating in a 
buff about the tail; narrow area along the sides from cheeks to hind legs, 
ochreous buff, which is brightest posterior to the forelegs; the ochre colour 
becoming paler, extends over the upper belly and breast; throat and lower 
belly are greyish white; whitish hairs over the ears. 
The one marked feature is the chestnut and rusty cinnamon-coloured 
rump which, though showing some variation from animal to animal, char- 
acterizes both the summer and winter coat. On many of the summer 
skins, the rump is as bright coloured as on winter specimens, others are 
noticeably pale, but some specimens taken in October match them. It 
appears, therefore, that no substantial differences exist between the summer 
and winter pelages of adults from Baffin island. An examination of a 
small number of skins, if adult autumn and winter specimens were compared 
with not quite full-grown summer specimens, might easily lead to the 
erroneous conclusion that two distinct pelages existed. 
Well-grown juveniles taken from June to September are much paler 
and duller than adults, and possess little or no suggestion of the chestnut 
rump-patch. Typical of this phase is specimen No. 6185 9 , taken on 
June 4, 1926. Entire upper parts dull, yellowish grey peppered with 
darker hairs, the general colour much like that of the anterior upper parts 
of adults, though averaging duller and with a more or less obscure leaden 
wash; very faint buffy cast over rump in good light; sides, upper belly, 
and breast pale buffy; throat and lower belly a trifle paler. Hair slicker 
and shorter than in adults. 
Juveniles taken at Strathcona sound on August 19, 1923, are obviously 
entering the bright buffy and chestnut phase of the adult pelage, but in 
no instance is it so pronounced in tone. 
It has been stated that the summer hair of trimucronatus is less silky 
and shorter than the winter hair. If so, the differences are scarcely 
detectable; in the large series of specimens examined there appears to be no 
substantial difference between the adults of the two seasons. On young 
animals the hair, of course, is much shorter in June, but by October it is 
nearly as long as that of adults. On immature animals taken on August 
19, at Strathcona sound, the pelage is markedly short and silky. The 
following tables give the length of hair of juveniles, and of adults at both 
seasons. There appears to be no difference between the pelages of com- 
parable male and female specimens. 
