OCT., 1900.] MAMMALS OF THE YUKON REGION. 23 



Eangifer arcticus (Richardson). Barren Ground Caribou. 



The barren ground caribou ranges over nearly all of extreme north- 

 ern North America from northwestern Labrador to the Aleutian 

 Islands. It was formerly abundant over this great territory, but is 

 now quite rare. Even at the time of Nelson's work in 1877 it had 

 become comparatively uncoumion, though it was once common all 

 about Norton Sound and for some distance up the river. The south- 

 ern and interior limits of its range are uncertain. During our stay 

 in St. Michael, I saw half a dozen skins which had been secured 

 near Andraefski, 90 miles above the mouth of the Yukon. There are 

 specimens in the National Museum from Nushagak and Unalakleet, 

 Alaska; and from Rampart House and La Pierre House, Northwest 

 Territory. 



Rangifer tarandus (Linnfeus). Domesticated Reindeer. 



During the past few years, as is well known, an effort has been 

 made to introduce domesticated reindeer from Siberia into Alaska. 

 The animals as a rule have been carefully herded, but in a few cases 

 they have had opportunities to stray away and run wild. The herd 

 that had perhaps the best chance to stray was one which was brought 

 from Lapland to Haines in 1898, and driven inland over the Dalton 

 trail. A short time after it started several of the animals were seen 

 in the forest near Haines, and one of them was killed. This was the 

 only instance of the kind brought to my attention, but I have no 

 douljt that reindeer have occasionally wandered from the care of the 

 herders at other times and in other places. 



Alces gigas Miller. Alaska Moose. 



Aires ffigas Miller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XIII, 57-59, May 29, 1.S90. 



The Alaska moose, as has frequently been stated, is the largest of 

 the deer family in North America. Its distribution along the Yukon 

 extends from Lakes Atlin and Tagish at least to the mouth of the 

 Tanana and prol)al)ly somewhat farther. Whymper^ says that it was 

 'never known as low as Nulato,' even in the time of its greatest 

 abundance. It is evident, however, from the record of Nelson ^ at the 

 Yukon delta, and that of Richardson ^ at the mouth of the Mackenzie, 

 that it does occasionally leave its favorite woodlands of the interior 

 and wander as far as the Arctic coast. At present it is still quite 

 numerous, but is chiefly contined to the small streams tri])utary to the 

 Yukon, According to reports which came to me it is abundant in the 

 region al)out the upper waters of the Stewart, Pelly, and MacMillan 

 rivers. Along- the great river itself numbers have been killed during 



^ Travels in Alaska and on the Yukon, 245, 1869.' 



^ Report upon Natural History Collections in Alaska, 2S7, 1887. 



■' Fauna Boreali-Aiuericana, 233, 1829. 



