60 
The first seen could not be approached to within gun range, the second 
was shot only after tedious stalking. This animal had the general appear- 
ance of being in winter pelage, but close examination revealed the presence, 
beneath the white fur, of the brownish grey hair of the summer coat, 
about a half inch long. The white fur was in process of being rapidly shed 
and had disappeared from a large patch on one side. Tredgold, on June 14, 
saw a hare which was still white except for a greyish brown streak down 
the back of the ears. Another seen on June 20, appeared to be wholly 
white. On July 10, Tredgold saw a hare markedly bluish grey over the 
back. From this date to mid-September, during the traverse of the 
southern shores of Nettilling lake, no hares were seen. 
During the autumn of 1925 and the following winter hares seemed to 
be more numerous at Pangnirtung than during the previous years, judging 
principally by the number brought by Eskimo. 
On the traverse from Cumberland gulf to Foxe basin, in January and 
February, 1926, comparatively few signs of the species were observed. They 
were more common in the mountain valleys to the east than elsewhere, 
but sometimes miles would pass without seeing a single trail. A number 
of trails were seen on the Tarionnittuk route from Kaggilartung to Net- 
tilling fiord. On the height of land (400 feet) between the two fiords, 
signs were more common than elsewhere. A number of trails were observed 
in Nettilling fiord and along the chain of small lakes via Amittok to Net- 
tilling lake. At Takuirbing river numerous trails were seen among the 
rocks and over the tundra to the south, a condition which contrasted 
markedly with the long experience at this place in the summer of 1925. 
On the journey from this point through the island of Nettilling lake, across 
the western tundra to Foxe basin and along the north coast of Nettilling 
lake, on the return, not a single hare trail was seen. Evidently this animal 
is very scarce, or entirely absent from western Baffin island during the 
winter at least. Though no signs of hare were seen along the north coast 
of Nettilling lake, it is almost certain that the animal occurs among the low 
hills of the region. Like the caribou, the hare cannot obtain food on the 
plains west of Nettilling lake because of the deep, hard-packed covering of 
snow. On the windswept slopes of the hilly country food is procurable 
with comparative ease and certainty. On the return journey from Net- 
tilling lake, hare signs were very common on the northwest slope of Amittok 
River valley and where the animals had been scratching the snow to reach 
the vegetation below. Hare trails were seen on February 12 near Nauyar- 
ping, on February 13 in Kangertlukjuak fiord, on February 14 at Bon 
Accord, and on February 15 near American harbour. 
On the traverse from Cumberland sound to Amadjuak bay, in April, 
1926, signs of hares were very scarce. At cape Dorset a hare was seen on 
June 3 and another on June 6; both animals still were white. No other 
hares were seen, but James Aitken, post manager, stated that they were 
fairly plentiful throughout Cape Dorset region and that every winter a 
large number were caught by Eskimo, in fox traps. On June 24, a hare 
was seen on one of Fox islands, 5 miles from the mainland. The animal 
seemed still to be in the winter coat. 
Lepus arcticus was first described by J. C. Ross (See Allen and Cope- 
land, 1924, p. 11) from specimens collected southeast of cape Bowen, 
northwestern Baffin island. Ross (1826, p. 93) records the occurrence of 
the hare at Port Bowen. Miller (1924, p. 449), giving particulars regarding 
