1906] The Caribou of Queen Charlotte Islands. 75 



we found a shed antler lying in the moss, undoubtedly the left 

 antler of a caribou. 



"As a result of our investigations we are perfectly convinc- 

 ed that a species of caribou does inhabit the northern part of 

 Graham Island and would give the following reasons for our 

 opinion : 



1. The tracks are plentiful of all sizes, some quite fresh, 

 and are undoubtedly tracks of a large animal of 

 the deer family. In the sketch the distinctive dew- 

 claws of the caribou are perfectly marked. 



2. The dung seen was certainly not that of a wapiti ; the 

 tracks point to a very large animal of the deer fam 



ily. 



3. That the shed antler was deliberately taken into the 

 country and left to be discovered is a point that may 

 be dismissed as very improbable. 



We were, unfortunately, unable to actually see a caribou, 

 although we searched for three days in both the bush and open 

 country. 



"The Indians living at Virago Sound are quite positive 

 about the existence of caribou, but state that they are never 

 seen en the west coast of Graham Island, and a search over the 

 open plain extending to the west of the area marked on the at- 

 tached plan failed to reveal any tracks. We could get no in- 

 formation of tracks having been seen south of Naden Harbour, 

 and so have come to the conclusion that the caribou are, for 

 some reason, only found within a small area of the N. W. por- 

 tion of Graham Island. 



"Whether this caribou is of the barren ground or woodland 

 variety must be left to the naturalists to decide, the shed antler 

 appearing to us to favor either variety. From the fact that 

 our continuous search in the open failed to discover an animal, 

 this caribou would appear to prefer the bush to the open. 



"We interviewed an Indian (by name George Hallett) 

 who stated that five years ago he had shot three caribou, and 

 his description of the size and appearance of the animals was 

 fairly accurate. As he stated they had no horns they were 

 probablv shot out of season. George Hallett also said that an- 

 other Indian who once accompanied him on a hunting trip had 

 shot a caribou with' large antlers: that these antlers had been 



