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16. Lepus arcticus arcticus Ross. American arctic hare. 
Eskimo: Ukaluk; Ukkvlirk, according to Hantzsch. 
No animal is more characteristic of the barren mountain slopes of 
Baffin island than the Arctic hare. Over large areas it is scarce, but in 
many of the fiords penetrating the Penny highlands, where considerable 
vegetation of a kind flourishes, it is conspicuous in late summer and autumn, 
in its full, white, winter coat. 
During eleven days spent at Ponds inlet, in 1923, only one hare was 
seen. It has a brownish coat and, apparently, was a juvenile. Sergeant 
Joy, R.C.M.P., stated that hares were quite common in the autumn of 
1922 and winter of 1922-23, in the vicinity of Patricia river west of Ponds 
inlet, but on September 1, 1923, though old signs were fairly abundant, 
no hares could be found by the writer. At Pangnirtung fiord, from Sep- 
tember 11 to 21, 1924, only two hares were seen and two others were 
reported to have been seen. Tracks were found in the snow up to heights 
of 2,300 feet. After a heavy snowfall, September 18, hares were found to be 
present, but rather sparingly, on the low ground bordering the seashore. 
In 1924, the first hare was observed on July 31, in Sirmilling bay, 
Issortukdjuak fiord. The animal was bluish or slaty grey, with white legs 
and tail, and was so wild as to be observable only at a distance, with the 
aid of a binocular. On August 31, at Blacklead island, an Eskimo brought 
a hare shot on the mainland a few miles away. This animal was snow white 
except on the tips of the ears. 
On September 15, 1924, Arctic hares were found to be numerous at 
the head of Pangnirtung fiord on the lower rocky slopes rising from the 
sea. The hares were snow white. Eight were easily shot in the space 
of an hour, as they were not in the least shy. They could be easily ap- 
proached and in many cases would “freeze” while several shots were fired, 
after which they would leisurely bound away. Many could be approached 
to within twenty-five yards. In contrast, the hares near the post 18 miles 
away, seldom could be shot except at long range, and some could not be 
approached but bounded away until lost to view. Individuals were 
observed to run, almost without a halt, for over a half mile. 
On October 3, 1924, six hares were seen on mountain slopes east of 
Aulatsivik peninsula, Pangnirtung fiord, but were so wild that only one 
was secured. During the winter of 1924-25, a few hares in Pangnirtung 
district were shot by white men and a number by Eskimo. In February, 
1925, during the journey to the east coast, very few hares were seen. No 
signs of them were noted in Pangnirtung pass. The Eskimo at Broughton 
island and Padle said that hares were very scarce, but the Broughton 
Island Eskimo stated that the animals were tolerably common well up 
Heart ajene fiord. In Merchants bay a few hare trails were seen, but 
natives stated that the animal was scarce. The northern entrance to 
Kingnait pass is reported by Eskimo to be normally a great hare country. 
A low, rounded mountain range on the east side of the pass is said to be 
usually well stocked with hares and is named Ukaluktoyou, after the 
species. While traversing the pass, no hares and very few hare trails were 
seen. 
In April, 1925, along the route to Nettilling lake, hares were very scarce, 
though signs of the animal were seen at various places. At the lake from 
May 5 to June 3, hares were very scarce and only two were seen, the first 
in the lask week in May and the second on June 3. Both were wild. 
