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194 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN
continents. Neither can the g r a y fox of the U n i t e d States,
entirely unknown i n north- western Canada, be considered as
their progenitor, as these varieties are conspicuous by their
absence wherever that species of f o x predominates. I now
regret that d u r i n g my l o n g residence i n the I n d i a n country
I neglected to have the theory of f ox o r i g i n p r a c t i c a l l y tested,
but I hope the matter w i l l eventually receive due attention.
Doctor A r m s t r o n g mentions that one of the crew of the
Investigator saw a " black fox " on the shores of B a r i n g L a nd
( i s l a n d ) , near Cape Colquhoun, early i n September, 1851.
A g a i n , on November 11 of the same year, one of the men
observed another black fox on the ice, about a m i l e f r om the
ship, then w i n t e r i n g i n M e r c y B a y , l a t i t u d e 76° north. He
further says that there was no previous record of the appearance
of this animal so f a r north, but that its existence there
could not be questioned. It may be asked i n v a i n , Were
these foxes but one and the same i n d i v i d u a l twice seen, or
were they indigenous, or a p a i r of recent stragglers from
the continent? With the exception of the blue and white
foxes ( Vulpes lag opus and Vulpes fuliginosa), of w h i c h a l l
A r c t i c explorers make frequent mention, I believe these are
the only recorded instances of any species of f o x h a v i n g been
observed on the lands situated to the n o r t h of the A m e r i c an
Continent.
I n course of fifteen years' residence at E o r t Chipewyan,
Lake Athabasca, the I n d i a n s brought me five l i t t e r s of young
foxes. U n t i l they were several months old i t was v e r y difficult
to determine the v a r i e t y to w h i c h they belonged. The
red first declared itself. Two of the l i t t e r s ( five and seven
cubs, respectively) were a l l red, as was t h e i r mother; two
were a l l cross ( mothers were cross), five cubs each; and the
fifth consisted of one red, one v e r y fine, and three f a i r cross
foxes, f r om a r e d female. I would remark that they were successively
kept w i t h i n a small, closely- stockaded y a r d adjoini
n g the office b u i l d i n g at E o r t Chipewyan. A t first each l i t t er
was placed i n a small wooden kennel, and they were very
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| Title | Page 217 |
| OCR | 194 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN continents. Neither can the g r a y fox of the U n i t e d States, entirely unknown i n north- western Canada, be considered as their progenitor, as these varieties are conspicuous by their absence wherever that species of f o x predominates. I now regret that d u r i n g my l o n g residence i n the I n d i a n country I neglected to have the theory of f ox o r i g i n p r a c t i c a l l y tested, but I hope the matter w i l l eventually receive due attention. Doctor A r m s t r o n g mentions that one of the crew of the Investigator saw a " black fox " on the shores of B a r i n g L a nd ( i s l a n d ) , near Cape Colquhoun, early i n September, 1851. A g a i n , on November 11 of the same year, one of the men observed another black fox on the ice, about a m i l e f r om the ship, then w i n t e r i n g i n M e r c y B a y , l a t i t u d e 76° north. He further says that there was no previous record of the appearance of this animal so f a r north, but that its existence there could not be questioned. It may be asked i n v a i n , Were these foxes but one and the same i n d i v i d u a l twice seen, or were they indigenous, or a p a i r of recent stragglers from the continent? With the exception of the blue and white foxes ( Vulpes lag opus and Vulpes fuliginosa), of w h i c h a l l A r c t i c explorers make frequent mention, I believe these are the only recorded instances of any species of f o x h a v i n g been observed on the lands situated to the n o r t h of the A m e r i c an Continent. I n course of fifteen years' residence at E o r t Chipewyan, Lake Athabasca, the I n d i a n s brought me five l i t t e r s of young foxes. U n t i l they were several months old i t was v e r y difficult to determine the v a r i e t y to w h i c h they belonged. The red first declared itself. Two of the l i t t e r s ( five and seven cubs, respectively) were a l l red, as was t h e i r mother; two were a l l cross ( mothers were cross), five cubs each; and the fifth consisted of one red, one v e r y fine, and three f a i r cross foxes, f r om a r e d female. I would remark that they were successively kept w i t h i n a small, closely- stockaded y a r d adjoini n g the office b u i l d i n g at E o r t Chipewyan. A t first each l i t t er was placed i n a small wooden kennel, and they were very |
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