22a EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



ABBREVIATIONS USED. 



C, Cree 



D. R Dog Rib 



S., Slavey 



L., ....... Loucheux 



Cariacus macrotus {Say). Mule Deer. 



This species is now becoming rare in Alberta among the 

 eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. One specimen, the 

 head of a male, with large antlers. 



Rangifer tarandus caribou (Kerr). Woodland Caribou- 



Tan-tzi, D. R. Be-tsi, S. 



The antlers of this species which I have seen have a flatter 

 beam than those of the Barren Ground caribou. They are 

 never symmetrical. I obtained a pair from an old medicine 

 man near Cedar Lake, who had kept them because of their 

 symmetry, which, however, was not perfect; the brow tines are 

 heavy and slightly palmated, the bez tines are flat and broad, 

 but not expanded at their points, and are proportionately 

 larger than in the other variety of caribou. 



Southwest of the Great Slave Lake we frequently came upon 

 their trails on the small prairies, where they had plowed up the 

 snow over considerable areas in their efforts to reach the grass. 



They are usually found in bands of four or five. I was told 

 by the Indians that they did not occur east of the Northern 

 Arm of the Great Slave Lake, but west of it, on the traverse 

 between Rae and Providence. I crossed several of their trails 

 between Birch and Lion Lakes. The woodland caribou is un- 

 known at McPherson. 



Their skins are said (by Richardson) to be infested with 

 gadfly grubs, as are those of the Barren Ground caribou, but 

 the dressed leather traded at Grand Rapids and Resolution 

 showed no trace of grub holes. The leather made from their 

 skins is nearly as heavy as moose leather but, as I learned from 

 sad experience, without its wearing qualities. 



The flesh is traded by the Indians, who receive 5 MB for a 

 whole caribou, and from 3 to 6 M6 for a dressed skin. 



