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Show 344 MR. R. BROWN ON THE MAMMALS OF GREENLAND. [May 28, two in the sea, and, from our travels extending over but a limited portion of the vicinity of Disco Bay, had but few opportunities ot adding to our knowledge of their habits. I was fortunate enough, however, to obtain the assistance of my friends Herren Knud Gehneyden Fleischer, Carl Bolbroe, and Oc-tavius Neilsen, whose long acquaintance with the Eskimo language enabled me to discover some of the errors which Fabricius fell into in deciphering the mythical species ; and our intelligent travelling companion Hr. Anthon P. Tegner kindly gave me the benefit of his experience. These notes I have incorporated in the body of this paper at the proper place. I have also examined, through the kindness of the curators, the Greenland Mammals in the Copenhagen Museums, and those in the Museum of Science and Art iu Edinburgh, comprising^ many of the the typical specimens of Scoresby, Richardson, &c. For this latter favour m y thanks are especially due to Professors Archer and All-man and to Mr. J. B. Davies. 1. URSUS MARITIMTJS, Linn. Grcenl. Nennok (o guttural). The well-known "Polar" or "Ice Bear" is found along the whole coast of Greenland from north to south, but not nearly so numerous as in former times, or as is popularly supposed. There are more in the northern than in the southern portion of the country ; and it is very seldom seen in mid-Greenland, i. e. between about 69° and 66° N. lat. There are yearly killed from thirty to sixty of them. The Company of Royal Merchants in Greenland give the natives about five rigsdaler (lis. 3d.) for the skins. Occasionally there are a number killed near Cape Farewell which have come round on the annual ice-drift. Here a curious custom prevails, viz, that whosoever sights the Bear first, man, woman, or child, is entitled to the skin, and the person who has shot it only to the blubber and flesh*. It is of light creamy colour, rarely pure white, except when young ; hence the Scotch whalers call it the " Brounie " or "Brownie," and sometimes the "Farmer," from its very agricultural appearance as it stalks leisurely over the furrowed fields of ice. Its principal food consists of Seals, which it persecutes most indefatigably ; but it is somewhat omnivorous in its diet, and will often clear an islet of eider-duck eggs in the course of a few hours. I have seen it watch a Seal for half a day, the Seal continually escaping just as the Bear was about putting its paw on it at the " atluk" (or escape hole) in the ice. Finally, it tried to circumvent its prey in another manner. It swam off to a distance and when the Seal was again half asleep at its atluk, the Bear swam under the ice, with a view to cut off its retreat. It failed, however, and the Seal finally escaped. The rage of the animal was * The flesh, and especially the liver, is said to often prove poisonous wl.pn eaten The Eskimo on the western shores of Davis's Strait, carefullv prohibit their dogs from devouring any portion of it. J l |