RANGIFER GROENLANDICUS, Baird. 

 Barren-ground Caribou. 



Raii«*ifer Groeiiliiudicus. . . . Baikd, Pacific R. R. Rep., VIIT. 



634. 

 Cerviis taraudus Groeiilaudicns. Kerr, Linn., 297. 

 Cervus taraudus, var. a, Arctica. Richardson, F. B. A., 241. 



Common Deer Hearne, Journey, 200. 



Barren-«Toiiu(l Caribou. . . '. Richardson, F. B. A., 241. 

 Taraudus arcticus Baird, U. S. Pat. Off. Rep. Agr. 



for 1851, 105. 



This animal is of the reindeer type, but is much smaller than C. tarau- 

 dus, and indeed is smaller than any of the deer which we have hitherto 

 described. Antlers much longer and more slender than those of the 

 woodland caribou. The tines are very erratic in form, some of whicli 

 are palmated. In color it strongly resembles the larger species of rein- 

 deer, tliough it is of appreciably lighter color. In the specimen before 

 me the legs, instead of the brown color of the other species, are white 

 with a brown shade on the anterior side, extending half way down. In- 

 stead of a white section around the top of each hoof, the whole foot is 

 white to some distance above the accessory hoofs, where the brown hairs 

 in front begin to invade the white. Metatarsal gland absent. Tarsal 

 gland present. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



I confess to feeling a very great interest in this little reindeer, 

 and exceedingly regret the want of an opportunity to study it in 

 its arctic home, or even to inspect a living specimen ; my own 

 observations have been confined to mounted specimens, to skins, 

 feet, and legs in my collection. From these I can understand 

 sufficient for a simple monograph of the animal, but for all else 

 necessarily I am indebted to the observations of others, both 

 printed, written, and oral. Fortunately, I have met with some 

 very intelligent gentlemen who have spent years of their lives 

 where they abound, and whose observations are of the greatest 

 value. The specific place to which this animal is entitled in nat- 

 ural history, has not been definitely settled by naturalists. Sir 

 John Richardson very strongly intimates that it is his opinion 

 that it is a distinct species from the woodland caribou, yet he 



