4 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 56 



(more uniformly grading in size from middle to outer pair than in 

 the " barren-ground " type, which decrease by conspicuous steps, 

 with the outer pairs very small). 



Antlers large and stout; main ascending beam rather straight, 

 without the low, sweeping, backward curve of osborni; less slender 

 and more palmated. 



Measurements of type. — Head and body, 2,220 millimeters; tail 

 vertebrae, 150; hind foot, 690. Skull: Condylobasal length, 427; 

 palatal length, 268 ; postpalatal length, 136.5 ; greatest orbital breadth, 

 182 ; greatest length of nasals, 151 ; maxillary tooth row, crowns, 112 ; 

 mandibular tooth row, crowns, 120; length of upper molars, 62.1; 

 upper premolars, 52; greatest breadth of m', 18; lower molars, 

 length, crowns, 70.5 ; lower premolar row, 50. 



Remarks. — From its large size and dark coloration, this species 

 scarcely needs comparison with Rangifer caribou sylvestris Richard- 

 son, represented in the National Museum collection by specimens 

 from Nelson River, Keewatin, and east of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

 Six specimens of Rangifer fortidens, all from the type locality, have 

 been examined. Apparently the females of this species are normally 

 without antlers. A number seen and one killed lacked them, and 

 the resident hunters all told me this was the usual condition. The 

 cow collected, a sub-adult specimen, has small knobs on the skull, 

 which did not pierce the skin. The type specimen, a magnificent bull, 

 was shot by Chas. D. Walcott, ]v., in the snow fields above timber- 

 line. 



RANGIFER CARIBOU SYLVESTRIS (Richardson) 



1829. Cervus tarandiis, var. iS sylvestris Richardson, Fauna Boreali 

 Americana, Vol. i, p. 250. 



Type locality. — Southwestern shores of Hudson Bay. 



Characters. — Like Rangifer caribou caribou of eastern Canada, 

 but skull longer and more slender ; rostrum narrower ; teeth larger, 

 the tooth rows, especially mandibular row, longer ; nasal bones 

 longer. Neck and head darker in color ; ears, back and sides of neck, 

 much darker, the hairs brown to roots. 



Measurements of skulls. — Adult male (east of Lake Winnipeg. 

 Manitoba) : Total length 417 millimeters; condylobasal length, 398; 

 greatest orljital breadth, 163 ; breadth of rostrum in front of first 

 premolars, 73 ; upper tooth row, 107; lower tooth row, 112.5. Adult 

 female (Nelson River, Keewatin) : Total length, 396; condylobasal 

 length, 377; greatest orbital breadth, 165.5; breadth of rostrum in 

 front of first premolars, 68 ; upper tooth row, 102.5 ! lower tooth 

 row, 113.5. 



