32 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



except that they did not ever go completely under water, 

 and, of course, they swam much higher and with even less 

 effort. This then was the solution of the many leafless 

 stems. I have told this to several guides, none of whom 

 knew that the Caribou fed on these leaves. On three 

 other occasions I found them engaged in similar feasts, so I 

 am fairly sure that it is not an exceptional food. Unfor- 

 tunately I never succeeded in obtaining a photograph of the 

 animals thus engaged owing to the darkness of the weather. 

 The intelligent animals seem to know better than to go 

 into the small bog ponds which are so numerous all over 

 the barrens, not even the most succulent leaves having 

 sufficient attraction to coax them into the treacherous pools. 

 The bottom of these pools is somewhat indeji?iite^ just as in 

 the bog-holes in Ireland ; the banks also are crumbly, so 

 that it would be difficult for an animal to get out if he 

 should once venture in. 



During the migration, the Caribou are almost entirely 

 diurnal in their habits. They feed by day, chiefly during 

 the noon hours, when they may be seen wandering slowly 

 over the savannas or barrens, grazing on their favourite food, 

 the reindeer moss [C/ac/onia ra?igiferi7td) which tinges the 

 bogs with its curious lemon-grey colours, in such beautiful 

 contrast to the deep purple browns and orange greens of 

 the mosses, and the crimsons of the dwarfed shrubs. The 

 warmer the weather, the more time do the deer devote to 

 feeding during their journey. In fact, on really warm days 

 they do not travel, but spend their time enjoying the sun- 

 shine, feeding and sleeping the hours away in a delightfully 

 lazy manner. Let the cold north-east wind blow, bringing 

 with it stinging flakes of frozen snow and feeding becomes 

 a secondary consideration. The call to the south is strong. 

 There is no time to sleep during the day and no time to 



