99 
fetid as that of the common fox. Its 
flesh is not only eaten by the Green¬ 
landers, but some voyagers have esteem¬ 
ed it as good food. Vid. Phipps , p. 
184. 
Their skins are of little value in traf¬ 
fic, especially the white furred ones, as 
the fur easily comes off. 
It was formerly supposed, that there 
were two species of Arctic foxes, but this 
is denied by Fabricius in the most satis¬ 
factory manner. 
These three quadrupeds constitute 
the entire of that great division of ani- 
mals which belong to Spitzbergen. In 
warmer climes, the species are more 
numerous; but the individual animals 
do not there seem to possess more vi¬ 
gour or animation than these are imbued 
with. The climate of Spitzbergen being 
an extreme of cold, the animals of a more 
genial country cannot exist there. These 
species are indigenous to the regions of 
