o f Lapland. Their fur is in general of a yellow or tawny colour,
b u tfom e a re whitiih. The Laplanders often Ihoot the wolves,
but more frequently catch them in traps: the ikins .are dried for
fale.
T h e fox is an animal o f which Finmark produces a variety, and
in the greateft numbers. Some o f them are red, others red with
a black crofs; others quite black, and fome black with long hairs
on the back, which are o f a filver colour at their extremities.
The ikins of thefe laft, well known by the name of the Jiher-
haired fox, are greatly valued all over Europe; and, by an order
iffued in 1652, were referved for his Daniih Majefty’s ufe only.
At prefent they are fold to any purchafer, and chiefly to the Ruffian
merchants, who import them into their own country, where
they are employed to ornament the dreffes of the firft perfonages
of the Ruffian empire. Befides thefe already fpecified, there are
found white foxes with black ears and feet, having white tails
with black hairs intermixed. The fox is traced in the fnow, and
followed by the Laplander till within gun ffiot. Sometimes he
is decoyed to a fpot vftiere fleih has been buried under the fnow
with a view of alluring h im ; and while he is eagerly digging
for the bait which he has fcented, the hunter from his concealment
fires upon him. This kind of chafe is ufually pra&ifed in
the night when the moon ffiines, or by the light of the aurora
borealis, which is peculiarly bright in this climate. The fox is
likewife dug out of his e a rth ; and a variety of ftratagems and
devices are called in aid to bring him into the power of his per-
6 fecutors;
fecutors; he fometimes falls even a vidtim to poiion. I t has happened
that the fox, when caught by the leg, has left a part o f it
in the trap, and hobbled away on three legs ; and it is believed
by the Laplanders, that the fox will facrifice the leg by biting it
off, in order thereby to regain his liberty: but is it not more rational
to fuppofe the lofs of leg to be occafioned by the bone being
firft broken by the trap, and then the fradtured part of the leg
ieparated, by the frequent and violent efforts to extricate himfelf
from the inthralment ? No creature, except man, has been ob-
ferved to make a willing and voluntary facrifice of life or limb.
Martens are found in Finmark. Of thefe there are three kinds
or fpecies ; the Jlone marten, fo called fro.m his frequenting rocky
places; his fur is ffiort and blackiih, and his tail of a yellowiffi
colour, with an aih coloured throat. The fecond fpecies is called
the birch-marten, as he frequents the fpots where thofe trees g row ;
his fur is yellow, the tail of a purpliih colour, and the throat
white. The third fort is called, for the like reafon, the fir-mar-
ten, being found amongft the fir-trees ; its fur is yellow, the tail
o f a tawny colour, and the throat white. , The martens are all
taken in traps.
T h e gulo, or glutton, called by the Danes vielfras, and by the
Laplandersgjeeitk, is to be met with in Finmark ; but it is rather
an uncommon animal.. It is furnifhed with iharp teeth and claws,
and although greatly inferior in fize to the rein-deer, is faid to
have frequently killed thofe animals ; but this is effected rather
by furprife than by open affault, and in the following manner.
V o l . II. F f The