Caribou 197 



heard the Caribou about Abitibi make a double grunting call, 

 the first sound raucous and deep, as though uttered while 

 taking breath, the second more like a light explosive cough or 

 bark. The bulls also make a deep rumbling. 



In several parts of Canada traditions exist that formerly 

 the Indians used to call the Caribou as they do the Moose. 

 My own experience would lead me to believe this quite possible, 

 but the art has been forgotten. 



The most singular, perhaps, of the sounds made by the hoof- 

 Caribou is the clicking or creaking of the hoof. At each step 

 each foot gives out a loud, sharp crack. 



This is easily heard at a distance of fifty feet in a wind, 

 and twice as far In still weather. When a herd is moving along 

 the countless crackles from their hoofs make a volume of low, 

 continuous sound. 



Persons who have never heard this curious clicking have 

 no diflficulty In explaining It: "Of course the hoofs spread 

 when they bear the weight of the animal," they say, *'and, 

 when lifted, the hard surfaces spring together with a * crack.'" 

 But close observation shows that the crack Is made by some 

 mechanism in the foot, and that it *'goes off" while the weight 

 IS on it. 



It is not always one sharp crack, but sometimes a crackle, 

 or several little sounds close together. Many examinations 

 made in Norway and in the Winnipeg Zoo have shown me that 

 the crack takes place just as the foot is relieved of the animal's 

 weight, but before any part Is lifted from the ground. The 

 hoofs do not strike together during the stride, and the crackle Is 

 not heard until the foot is placed, and the weight Is on It. Thus 

 it may crackle twice at each tread, always once as the weight 

 Is coming on; usually a second time as It Is going ofi^. I have 

 walked many times on hands and knees by the side of the 

 Reindeer to make observations. On one occasion I Induced 

 one to walk beside me while (at considerable personal risk) I 

 kept my hand on the knuckle-joint of his hind-foot. The 

 crack took place each time with the bending of the knuckle- 



