REIN-DEER. 83 



The venison that we obtained was the flesh of 

 the small or barren ground rein-deer, which drops 

 its young on the coasts or islands of the Arctic Sea. 

 This kind does not penetrate far into the forest even 

 in severe seasons, but prefers keeping in the isolated 

 clumps or thin woods that grow on the skirts of 

 the barren grounds, making excursions into the 

 latter in fine weather. A full grown well-fed buck 

 seldom weighs more than 150 lbs. after the intestines 

 are removed. The bucks of the larger kind, which 

 were mentioned in a preceding chapter as frequent- 

 ing the spurs of the Rocky Mountains near the 

 Arctic Circle, weigh from 200 lbs. to 300 lbs., also 

 without the intestines. Whether these be the same 

 with the woodland rein-deer, which inhabit the 

 southern districts of Rupert's Land and the adjoin- 

 ing parts of Canada, and of the United States, has 

 not been determined, no comparisons having been 

 instituted. The small barren ground deer are ge- 

 nerally in excellent condition in the proper season, 

 and yield the very finest venison, hence they can 

 scarcely be supposed to have been dwarfed through 

 defective pasture ; and it is probable that a rigid 

 comparison of examples of the several kinds would 

 elicit specific differences. The rein-deer that visit 

 Hudson's Bay travel southwards towards James' 

 Bay in spring. In the year 1833, vast numbers of 

 them were killed by the Cree Indians at a noted 



