Greenland Reindeer 37 



by sportsmen ; and others by the natives, who export their heads to San 

 Francisco. 



In a recent paper on the Kenai reindeer, Dr. D. G. Elliot^ describes 

 and figures a mounted male, a single antler, and a head. The male has 

 the under-parts dark, but another specimen (a female) indicates that this 

 character is not constant. The three antlers figured also show considerable 

 differences from the type specimen and from one another, which leads Dr. 

 Elliot to suggest that further evidence is necessary before this form can 

 be definitely admitted as distinct. 



A reindeer reputed to inhabit the islands of the ()ueen Charlotte group 

 has been described by Mr. E. Seton- Thompson as a separate species in 

 the Ottawa Naturalist for February 1900 under the name of Rangifcr 

 tarandus daivso)ii. It is said to be distinguished by its small size (which 

 is about equal to that of the Barren-Ground reindeer) and its colour, the 

 latter being darker than that of R. tarandus arcticus, but much lighter 

 than that of R. tarandus montaniis. The typical individual had but one 

 antler, and was said to come from the interior of Graham Island. Mr. 

 W. H. Osgood'-^ has, however, expressed the opinion that the specimen 

 came from the mainland, and belongs to the Barren-Ground form ; the 

 existence of any wild reindeer on Graham Island being more than doubtful. 



THE GREENLAND REINDEER, OR CARIBOU 



[Rangifcr tarandus gnvn/audicus) 



The wild reindeer of Greenland was separated as a distinct race by 

 Gmelin in his edition of the ^^ Sy sterna Naturce'" of Li/mcrus, published in 

 1788. Further information about this animal is, however, still much 

 needed ; and it would be interesting to ascertain whether there is any 



^ "Field Museum Publications" — Zoology, vol. iii. No. 5 (1901). 

 - Nortii American Fauna, No. 21, p. 26 (1901). 



