MIGRATIONS 77 



almost spring, there was no question of the existence of the 

 Caribou throughout the winter. The proof that they stay 

 in the south during the summer is equally good, though I 

 have not seen them myself, never having been along the 

 south coast, but I have been told on thoroughly reliable 

 authority that such is the case, and I have actually seen the 

 Caribou during August south-east of Grand Lake in the 

 magnificent high country back of " Old Harry." All of 

 this goes to prove that the migration is by no means 

 general, but is only indulged in by a part of the animals, 

 I should say probably the larger part. Now whether these 

 are creatures which are slower to change their habits no one 

 can say, but such may possibly be the case. 



The idea which seems to exist pretty generally that the 

 autumn migration begins between October 15 th and 22 nd 

 must not be relied on too implicitly. The season 

 is extremely variable, ranging from October 12th to 

 almost the middle of December, though it may usually 

 be expected between October 20th and November 5th, 

 depending almost entirely on the weather. A heavy fall of 

 snow appears to be the signal for the start ; if, however, it is 

 followed by a prolonged spell of good weather, the animals 

 either remain scattered about the flat country near 

 Sandy Lake, or they continue slowly and in a very 

 irregular way towards their winter quarters. With the 

 advent of cold or snows the movement invariably becomes 

 more or less general, and is extremely precipitate when the 

 cold is intense or the snowfall unusually heavy. The 

 sudden freezing of the waters spurs the animals on at a 

 terrific speed, and wonderful stories have been told of how 

 the stillness of the night has been broken by sounds like 

 thunder, as vast numbers have crashed through the frozen 

 lakes and rivers, impelled by a frantic desire to escape 



