The Caribou 287 



"seen a Canadian voyageur throw a full-grown 

 doe on his shoulder and carry it as an English 

 butcher would a sheep," and that the bucks 

 weigh, " when in good condition, from ninety to 

 one hundred and thirty pounds," and the average 

 weight of ninety-four deer shot by Capt. M'Clin- 

 tock's men in the Arctic regions, after they had 

 been cleaned and dressed for the table, was only 

 sixty pounds. This statement and the weight 

 given certainly describe a very small deer, which, 

 if of average size, would alone indicate an animal 

 different from the Woodland species. As to 

 the other forms, the Greenland as distinct from 

 the Barren-Ground species, the Newfoundland, the 

 eastern mainland animal, and the one from the 

 western portion of the continent, as separable 

 from each other, our material at present is not 

 sufficient for a definite decision to be reached, 

 for much has yet to be learned regarding the 

 variations of these animals, both seasonal and 

 individual. As far as one is able to judge by 

 the knowledge we have at present, it does not 

 seem probable that any more tenable species than 

 the three Woodland and two Barren-Ground of 

 this paper will be recognized, with the possibility 

 of one or more of these being reduced to a race 

 or the synoptical list ; for most of the work done 

 with these animals has been based upon very 

 insufficient material and scant knowledge. 



