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M A M M A L S O F N O R T H E R N C A N A D A 199
Other expeditions i n the polar regions have met with
many white and a few blue foxes. General Greely obtained
but twelve of the former, and he gives latitude 83° 24' north
as the most northerly range of this animal, which is there
indigenous. He says that the white fox of the Grinnell Land
section is much more wary than that of a few degrees of latitude
farther south, and therefore very difficult, to approach
for a shot, while all but one example rejected many poisoned
baits set for them. Mr. Peterson, the well- known Eskimo
interpreter of several expeditions, asserted that this species
made caches of food for winter consumption. Captain Lock-wood
found several fox lairs. In one hidden rock nook he
found fifty dead lemmings, i n others ( sand and earth covered")
there were from twenty to thirty lemmings, while in
a hollow he discovered a cache containing part of a polar
hare and the wings of a young brent goose and the usual
lemming. Some lairs appeared to be occupied from year to
year. McClintock writes that i n March, 1859, at Port Kennedy,
he shot a couple of white foxes that came playing
around the dogs, and, conscious of their superior speed, were
very impudent, snapping at the dogs' tails, and passing
almost under their noses. The captain intended both foxes
for the mess table, but the dogs anticipated h im i n respect,
to one. The flesh of the other proved insipid, but decidedly
better to the taste than the tinned meat.
When comparatively scarce, or rather less numerous
than usual, as sometimes happens i n their native habitat, it
is a rare thing to meet with any foxes i n the interior. It is
said that a litter consists generally of three and four, seldom
five, and when born the voting are blind and helpless, but
they soon acquire sight and gradually increasing strength,
and they also become active and very playful. The adult
fox is seemingly stupid and is easily captured by both
Indians and Eskimos. It lives on mice, lemmings, birds,
and carrion.
D u r i n g the period of twenty- five years, 1853 to 1877,
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| Title | Page 222 |
| OCR | M A M M A L S O F N O R T H E R N C A N A D A 199 Other expeditions i n the polar regions have met with many white and a few blue foxes. General Greely obtained but twelve of the former, and he gives latitude 83° 24' north as the most northerly range of this animal, which is there indigenous. He says that the white fox of the Grinnell Land section is much more wary than that of a few degrees of latitude farther south, and therefore very difficult, to approach for a shot, while all but one example rejected many poisoned baits set for them. Mr. Peterson, the well- known Eskimo interpreter of several expeditions, asserted that this species made caches of food for winter consumption. Captain Lock-wood found several fox lairs. In one hidden rock nook he found fifty dead lemmings, i n others ( sand and earth covered") there were from twenty to thirty lemmings, while in a hollow he discovered a cache containing part of a polar hare and the wings of a young brent goose and the usual lemming. Some lairs appeared to be occupied from year to year. McClintock writes that i n March, 1859, at Port Kennedy, he shot a couple of white foxes that came playing around the dogs, and, conscious of their superior speed, were very impudent, snapping at the dogs' tails, and passing almost under their noses. The captain intended both foxes for the mess table, but the dogs anticipated h im i n respect, to one. The flesh of the other proved insipid, but decidedly better to the taste than the tinned meat. When comparatively scarce, or rather less numerous than usual, as sometimes happens i n their native habitat, it is a rare thing to meet with any foxes i n the interior. It is said that a litter consists generally of three and four, seldom five, and when born the voting are blind and helpless, but they soon acquire sight and gradually increasing strength, and they also become active and very playful. The adult fox is seemingly stupid and is easily captured by both Indians and Eskimos. It lives on mice, lemmings, birds, and carrion. D u r i n g the period of twenty- five years, 1853 to 1877, |
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