MIGRATIONS 89 



That the animals had passed my blind without being 

 frightened was most fortunate, for by so doing a trail had 

 been established. This is very important, because any 

 other animals would feel more secure in following the same 

 trail. For this reason, it has been my practice for several 

 years to allow the first herd to pass undisturbed. Often I 

 have noticed that when Caribou (and I do not know 

 whether this applies to other deer) are startled they leave 

 some signal on the ground which warns every animal that 

 comes to the place. Of course, I cannot definitely explain 

 how this is effected, even though I am absolutely sure that 

 it does happen, and I say this even at the risk of having 

 some doubting Thomases say that my imagination is over 

 fertile. Unfortunately, I have no imagination ; were I thus 

 endowed I could write books about wild animals which 

 would appeal to the great public, and incidentally bring 

 me large cash returns ; but facts, and facts only, appeal to my 

 prosaic nature, and I can vouch for the truth of what I state 

 regarding the Caribou's signalling by this invisible method. 

 Not once, but on many occasions, I have seen one or more 

 Caribou walking quietly along a trail, when suddenly they 

 have been frightened, either by seeing me move, by the 

 sound of a camera being arranged, or worst of all, by a 

 draught of wind carrying my scent to them. Whatever the 

 cause makes no great difference. On being startled the 

 animals have jumped ; then, after standing still for a moment 

 to examine the cause of their alarm, they have bolted. For 

 hours afterwards every Caribou, on arriving at the place 

 where the frightened ones had jumped, has started violently, 

 and has on nearly every occasion turned and run in a 

 manner that showed every indication of fear, even though my 

 presence was entirely unknown to them. My idea is that 

 when the animal is suddenly frightened it expels a certain 



