176 NEW YORK, ZOOLO@GICAE SOGIELY 
obtain at present, but which will probably be subjected to con- 
siderable alteration in the future by new discoveries. Many of 
the species, especially those of the extreme north of America, are 
rapidly diminishing in numbers, and it is most important that 
they should be thoroughly studied at once. 
In describing the genus Rangifer, European naturalists have 
until recently held that there was but one species with a circum- 
polar distribution. Lately, however, they have partly yielded to 
the American view, and admitted the existence of either two or 
three distinct species. In the former case they identify the old 
world reindeer with the Barren Ground Caribou, to which indeed 
it is closely allied. Judge Caton made a very serious error in 
identifying the reindeer with our Woodland Caribou. 
The most recent European classification is as follows: 
1. Rangifer tarandus typicus, 
2 :: . Spitzbergensis, 
By caribou, 
4. terracnowvae, 
5. groenlandicus, 
6 arcticus. 
The differences between these types entitle them, under this 
system, only to sub-specific rank. This classification separates 
the Spitzbergen form from the typical Scandinavian reindeer, 
chiefly on the ground of its smaller size, but ignores the existing 
Siberian forms, concerning which very little authentic informa- 
tion is available. 
The writer believes that all the existing species should be 
divided into two groups: 
I. The Barren Ground Caribou. 
Il. The Woodland Caribou. 
and that the species should be classified as follows: 
I. BARREN GROUND CARIBOU. 
a. European species. 
1. Rangtfer tarandus, Northern Europe and Siberia. 
Di 2 spitzbergensts Spitzbergen. 
3. Undescribed Siberian races, Siberia. 
