CARIBOU 



brown, than in summer. Young like adults, with Some faint 

 indications of pale spotting. 



Measurements. — Males larger than females. Males, total 

 length, about ^^2 inches; tail vertebras, 4 inches; height at 

 shoulder, 42-48 inches; weight from 200-300 pounds. Females 

 weight, 150-250 pounds. 



Geographical Distribution. — Most of North America from 

 about 45° (in the east) northward; in the west, south in the 

 Rockies about to the Canadian boundary. 



Food. — Foliage of small trees, shrubs, and plants, willow, 

 birch, mosses, lichens, grasses, etc. 



Enemies. — Wolves and Bears. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Rangifer 



The Caribou fall more or less naturally into several large 

 groups, the typical numbers of which may be easily distin- 

 guished from one another, although there are border-land 

 forms which are disturbing because they combine the charac- 

 ters of two groups. 



Woodland Caribou 



Characterized by large size, heavy antlers with five or six 

 palmations and the beam somewhat flattened, and color 

 usually dark. 



Woodland Caribou. — Rangifer caribou caribou (Gmelin"). 

 As described. Found in extreme northeastern United 

 States and southeastern Canada, as far north and west as 

 Great Slave Lake, and even recorded as far north as 68°, 

 in forested sections; limits of range unknown. 



Richardson Caribou. — Rangifer caribou sylvestris (Richard- 

 son). 

 Very much like typical caribou but darker on head and neck 

 and very much darker on ears, back and sides of neck, the 

 hairs brown to the roots. Found along the southwestern 

 shores of Hudson Bay; limits of range unknown. 



Newfoundland Caribou. — Rangifer terrcenovoe Bangs. 



Larger than caribou, much lighter in color and with antlers 

 low, widely spread and much forked. Color in fall pelage, 

 drab grayish brown above; nearly pure white below; neck 

 soiled white. Found in Newfoundland. 



Mountain Caribou 



Distinguished by very large size, dark or blackish colora- 

 tion, and great antlers. 



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